In only 25 more years, 20% of the population in the United States will be 65 or older. Hypertension, which currently is the most ubiquitous disease, will continue to be popular within the older set.
However, are the guidelines used with younger people for what constitutes a 'good' blood pressure, the same for the elderly? Currently, 115/75 is seen as a healthy blood pressure; however, clinical research trials have not included the very old among their participants. Geriatritians (those doctors who specialize in the care of old people) have long thought that their patients might be harmed through aggressive blood pressure interventions; causing heart attacks, strokes, and even depression.
Therefore, a recent study which looked at elderly patients in 10 different huge VA medical centers validated the Geriatritians clinical expertise. One can go too low with Blood Pressure in the elderly. The study indicated that mortality was higher among those patients who had a systolic blood pressure below 139, and a diastolic less than 70.
Conclusions indicated that Blood Pressure slightly higher than the norm of younger people, might be cardio-protective. Perhaps, blood perfusion to oxygenate tissues is enhanced when the pressure within the elderly's vessels is higher.
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