Recent guidelines from leading American heart health organizations emphasize the importance of early treatment and lifestyle changes for individuals with high blood pressure, defined as an average reading of 130/80 mm/Hg or higher. The American heart Association (AHA) and the American college of Cardiology jointly released these updated recommendations, which advocate for individualized treatment plans.
Dr. Daniel Jones, who chaired the committee behind the guidelines, highlighted that high blood pressure is the most common and modifiable risk factor for heart disease. Hypertension affects approximately 1.28 billion adults worldwide, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries, and is a significant contributor to cardiovascular diseases and premature mortality.
To combat high blood pressure, the new guidelines recommend substantial lifestyle changes, including:
- Limiting sodium intake to under 2,300 mg daily, ideally 1,500 mg.
- Reviewing nutrition labels for packaged foods and restaurant meals.
- Completely abstaining from alcohol.
- Managing stress through exercise, meditation, or yoga.
- Achieving a healthy weight, with a target of at least 5% weight loss for those overweight or obese.
- Following a heart-healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.
- Increasing physical activity to 75-150 minutes weekly, incorporating both aerobic and strength training exercises.
The guidelines also emphasize the necessity of home blood pressure monitoring for confirming diagnoses and tracking treatment progress. The AHA's PREVENTTM tool aids in estimating long-term heart disease risk, factoring in heart, kidney, and metabolic health.
Moreover, personalized treatment strategies are encouraged, particularly for those with concurrent conditions like type 2 diabetes or obesity. This may involve multiple medications, including ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and newer options like GLP-1 medications, to effectively manage hypertension.
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