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"Lao Zhang, is your blood pressure high again? How much did the doctor let you go down? "The doctor said that I am old, and it is enough for my blood pressure to drop to 150/90, and it cannot be lowered."
"What? 150/90？ That's too high! I've heard that doctors now recommend that the blood pressure of the elderly be lowered to 130/80, so you ask the doctor, why don't you let it go down to 130/80? ”
"Hey, the doctor said that I am too old to bear it, and it will affect my body if it is too low. Besides, I'm not usually uncomfortable, and it's nice to go down to 150/90. ”
This conversation takes place in an ordinary community, and the two elderly people who speak are neighbors, surnamed Wang and surnamed Zhang. Mrs. Wang has always attached great importance to blood pressure control, while Uncle Zhang thinks that it is okay to have high blood pressure when she is old.
Mrs. Wang's worries are not groundless. She has seen a lot of popular science articles on blood pressure control in the elderly on the Internet, and learned that high blood pressure will increase the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and low blood pressure may also lead to ischemia of body organs and even cause fainting.
She remembers that doctors once said that the goal for blood pressure control in the elderly should be 130/80mmHg, not 150/90mmHg.
"However, the doctor said that you can't bear it, so why don't you let it go down to 130/80?" Mrs. Wang asked suspiciously.
Uncle Zhang sighed and said, "The doctor said that I am old, my body function is declining, and my blood pressure dropping too low will affect my body. Also, I don't feel uncomfortable on a regular basis, so it's nice to go down to 150/90. ”
The more Mrs. Wang listened, the more she felt that something was wrong, and she decided to look it up on the Internet to see what was going on.
She turned on her phone, searched for "blood pressure control in the elderly", and soon found a popular science article from the Cardiovascular Disease Branch of the Chinese Medical Association.
The article clearly states that the goal of blood pressure control in the elderly should be 130/80 mmHg, not 150/90 mmHg.
The article also explains why the goal of blood pressure control in older adults should be reduced to 130/80 mmHg. First of all, the blood vessel wall of the elderly will harden with age, the elasticity of blood vessels will decrease, and the increase in blood pressure is more likely to lead to the rupture of blood vessels, causing diseases such as cerebral hemorrhage.
Secondly, the elderly are more likely to have arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, and high blood pressure can increase the burden on the heart and increase the risk of heart failure.
After reading the article, Mrs. Wang became more determined in her thoughts. She decided to talk to Uncle Zhang again and persuaded him to go to the hospital to consult a doctor to see if he could lower his blood pressure control target to 130/80mmHg.
"Uncle Zhang, I checked the information, and the doctor said that the goal of blood pressure control for the elderly should be 130/80mmHg, not 150/90mmHg." Mrs. Wang handed the phone to Uncle Zhang, pointed to the article and said.
Uncle Zhang read the article carefully, his brows furrowed, and he began to doubt whether his previous thoughts were correct. "However, the doctor said that my body couldn't bear it, and dropping it too low would affect my body." Uncle Zhang was still a little hesitant.
"The doctor is talking about your body's tolerance, not that your blood pressure can't be lowered to 130/80mmHg." "You should consult a doctor to see if your body can tolerate a blood pressure of 130/80mmHg. ”
Uncle Zhang pondered for a moment and felt that Mrs. Wang had a point, so he decided to go to the hospital to consult a doctor.
At the hospital, Uncle Zhang explained the situation in detail to the doctor, who carefully examined his physical condition and asked him about his medication.
"Uncle Zhang, your physical condition is not bad, and your blood pressure control target can be reduced to 130/80mmHg." The doctor said, "Your current blood pressure control target is 150/90mmHg, which is actually too high, and it is recommended that you lower your blood pressure control target to 130/80mmHg, which can effectively reduce the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases." ”
The doctor also explained that blood pressure control goals for the elderly are not set in stone and need to be adjusted according to the individual's physical condition. If tolerated, the blood pressure control target can be lowered to 130/80 mmHg or even lower.
After listening to the doctor's explanation, Uncle Zhang finally understood that his previous thoughts were wrong. He decided to follow his doctor's advice and lower his blood pressure control target to 130/80mmHg.
In order to help Uncle Zhang better control his blood pressure, the doctor also formulated a detailed treatment plan for him, including adjusting his medication and changing his lifestyle.
Uncle Zhang listened carefully to the doctor's advice and began to actively cooperate with the treatment. He insisted on measuring his blood pressure every day, taking his medication on time, and paying attention to his diet and exercise, and his lifestyle has also changed a lot.
After a few months, Uncle Zhang's blood pressure stabilized at around 130/80mmHg, his physical condition improved significantly, and he felt more energetic than before.
Uncle Zhang's experience tells us that the goal of blood pressure control in the elderly is not set in stone, and needs to be adjusted according to the individual's physical condition. If the body tolerates, the blood pressure control target can be lowered to 130/80mmHg or even lower, which can effectively reduce the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and improve the quality of life.
Disclaimer: This article is for reference only, and the medical knowledge described is true and well-founded, but it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have any health problems, please consult a doctor or other
Bibliography:
* Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of hypertension in China (2018 revised edition)
* Goals for blood pressure control in patients with hypertension: evidence-based evidence and clinical practice
* Prevention and treatment of hypertension in the elderly