People with blood pressure levels that are slightly high but still considered normal–or high normal–should have their blood pressure checked every year, according to US researchers.
In their report, Dr. Ramachandran S. Vasan, of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Framingham Heart Study in Massachusetts, and colleagues reveal that men and women with high-normal blood pressure frequently progress to high blood pressure over a period of 4 years.
Uncontrolled hypertension, or high blood pressure, can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and congestive heart failure.
In the study, the investigators monitored the blood pressure levels of 9,845 men and women who attended a clinic between 1978 and 1994. Five percent of those with optimum blood pressure, 18% of those with normal blood pressure, and 37% of those with high-normal blood pressure developed hypertension within 4 years, the researchers report in the November 17th issue of The Lancet.
While blood pressure levels of up to 120/80 mm Hg are considered optimal, and levels up to 129/84 mm Hg are considered normal, readings of 140/90 mm Hg or higher are elevated and signal a risk of heart disease. Blood pressure levels between 130/85 and 139/89 mm Hg are classified as high normal.
The investigation also revealed the importance of maintaining a healthy weight. Patients in the study who saw a 5% weight gain were 20% to 30% more likely to develop high blood pressure, the report indicates.
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