Elderly people 'over-treated' for high blood pressure: Study

The treatment for high blood pressure in elderly patients have been too aggressive that may do them more harm than good, says a new research.

After examining available data of blood pressure patients aged 80 and more in the UK, scientists at Cochrane Collaboration found that the octogenarians are being given too many drugs and in too large doses.

The guidelines in the UK and the US recommend that people over 80 should receive the same blood pressure treatment as people of any other age. This means using combinations of drugs to reach a target blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg.

But Dr James Wright, head of the Cochrane research group, said: "Clinicians should change what they are presently doing and move towards a more conservative approach for the over 80s. I have done so with my patients."

His review of existing studies, including data from two new trials which looked specifically at the effect of blood pressure drugs in this age group, found little evidence that aggressive treatment saves more lives, the BBC reported.

Although fewer patients died of strokes, the total number of deaths from all causes was unchanged.

Based on the findings, Wright suggested a target blood pressure of 150/80 mmHg is more sensible, and said doctors should not be worried if only half of their most elderly patients achieve it.

The only trial that found a significant reduction in overall mortality was the most conservative in terms of number of drugs and dose of drugs allowed.

Ten Tips to Help You Control Your High Blood Pressure

Ten Tips to Help You Control Your High Blood Pressure

1. Make sure your blood pressure is under 140/90 mm Hg. If your systolic pressure (the top number) is over 140, ask your doctor what you can do to lower it.

2. Take your high blood pressure medicine, if prescribed, every day. If you have questions, talk to your doctor.

3. Aim for a healthy weight. If you are overweight or obese, carrying this extra weight increases your risk of high blood pressure. One way to determine if you need to lose weight is to find out your body mass index or BMI. If your BMI is above the healthy range (i.e., 25 or greater), or if your waist measurement is greater than 35 inches (women) or 40 inches (men) you probably have excess abdominal weight and you may benefit from weight loss especially if you have other risk factors. Talk to your doctor to see if you are at increased risk for high blood pressure and need to lose weight.

4. Increase your physical activity. Do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity, such as walking, most days of the week. You can do 30 minutes in three 10-minute segments.

5. Choose foods low in salt and sodium. Most Americans should consume no more than 2.4 grams (2,400 milligrams) of sodium a day. That equals 6 grams, about one teaspoon of table salt a day. For someone with high blood pressure, the doctor may advise less.

6. Read nutrition labels. Almost all packaged foods contain sodium. Every time you prepare or eat a packaged food, know how much sodium is in one serving.

7. Keep a sodium diary. You may be surprised at how much sodium you consume each day and the diary will help you decide which foods to decrease or eliminate.

8. Use spices and herbs instead of salt to season the food you prepare at home.

9. Eat more fruits, vegetables, grains, and low-fat dairy foods.

10. If you consume alcohol at all, consume moderate amounts. For men, this is less than two 12 oz servings of beer, or two 5 oz glasses of wine, or two 1 oz servings of "hard" alcohol a day. Women or lighter weight people should have no more than a single serving of any one of these beverages in a given day.

8 Tips to Prevent High Blood Pressure

While high blood pressure (also know as hypertension) is a serious health problem, there’s good news. No matter what your age or physical condition, there are things you can do to prevent high blood pressure.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers these 8 tips to help you prevent high blood pressure, or reduce your blood pressure if it’s already a problem.

1. Are you overweight? Lose weight.

Maintaining a healthy weight (see your doctor about this) will help prevent high blood pressure.

Getting back to a healthy weight is not as hard as it sounds. You can start by limiting the portion size of your meals and snacks, and cut way back on high calorie foods.

If you eat as many calories as you burn each day, you’ll maintain your weight. Eating fewer calories than you burn will help you lose weight. And losing weight will help lower your blood pressure.

2. When you plan meals, think of your heart.
Choose a diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. Keep total fat low and avoid foods that are high in saturated fats and cholesterol.

Having a healthy heart will help prevent blood pressure.

3. Eat less salt and sodium.
Salt and sodium can increase blood pressure, so it’s important to read food labels. The U.S. guidelines suggest limiting sodium intake to no more than 2,400 mg, or about 1 teaspoon of salt each day.

If you eat canned, processed, and convenience foods, buy the brands that are lower in sodium.

If you salt your food at the table, try using less, or none. It may take a little while to get used to the new flavors, but you may find that food tastes better when you use less salt.

Fast food can contain a lot of sodium, so if you eat fast food choose items that are lower in salt and sodium. Reducing your salt intake will help to prevent high blood pressure.

4. If you drink alcohol, practice moderation.
The U.S. guidelines recommend that men have no more than 2 drinks per day, and women have no more than one alcoholic beverage per day.

5. Increase your physical activity.
Exercise is a key factor in preventing high blood pressure.

If you get very little exercise now, start slowly and work your way up to at least 30 minutes of a moderate-level activity, such as brisk walking or bicycling, each day. If time is a factor, you’ll still benefit by breaking the 30 minute daily exercise periods into 10 or 15 minute sessions.

6. Stop smoking.
Research shows that smoking increases your chances of developing a heart disease, stroke, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and several forms of cancer.

7. Talk with your doctor or health care professional.
Learn what your blood pressure reading means to your health, and if medication is recommended for you to treat or prevent high blood pressure.

8. If your doctor prescribes medication, take it.
It’s important to understand:
* what your blood pressure medication is expected to do for you

* how to take your medication, and when

* if your blood pressure medication has any side effects

* if the blood pressure medication is safe to take with any other prescriptions or vitamins you are already taking

If you have high blood pressure and treatment is prescribed, don't be afraid to ask questions or get another medical opinion. Once you understand why you’re taking the medication, follow the recommended dose.

But the best way to treat high blood pressure is to prevent high blood pressure from becoming a problem. These 8 tips, plus advice from your health care provider, can help you keep your blood pressure at a healthy level. If you would like more information on blood pressure, how it's measured and what the measurements mean, see Blood Pressure 101: Why Are Those Numbers Important?.

Note: The U.S. government offers Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005, which provides detailed information on a recommended diet program to help you get healthy and stay healthy.