The ideal blood pressure is 120/70. Because physicians agree. But what is blood pressure too high and when should it be treated with high blood pressure, opinions are divided between the United States and Europe. A new study strengthens the European Position.

High blood pressure is considered to be one of the biggest risk factors for cardiovascular disease. But what exactly is “high” blood pressure, experts argue for years. There is some disagreement over which values is desirable, even normal or need treatment. In the USA, hypertension is treated earlier than with us. But is it also useful?

European Physicians see it differently

As the ideal value of a healthy blood pressure for adults is 120 to 70. US physicians to aspire to this value for all ages, although most of the people tend to be over 50 to have a higher blood pressure. The European Doctors are therefore more tolerant: For the elderly, values of 140 to 90. Individual risk factors for heart and vascular diseases play a role. Only at values of about 140 to 90 pills or a healthier life style should lower the blood pressure.

For the American College of Cardiology the therapy threshold is much too high. In their guidelines, there is the category “hypertension stage 1”, which should be treated. It is systolic values between 130 and 139, and diastolic values between 80 and 89. The European society of cardiology, speaks to these values of “increased normal blood pressure”. So no therapy is needed.

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Mild hypertension is not a risk

A study published in the “European Heart Journal”, strengthens the European position and warns against the Takeover of the US guideline. The Team from the Helmholtz Zentrum München examined the data of around 12,000 patients, and came to the conclusion: The treatment of stage-1-hypertension offers no advantage over non-treatment. The lightweight, high-pressure holds after ten years no higher risk of death than a normal blood pressure below 130 80.

Study leader Karl-Heinz Ladwig sees even a danger, when all of a sudden a lot more people than the blood pressure of patients: “Will you officially with the label ‘sick’, will have an effect on mental health.” Depression might increase.

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