January 24th, 2018
Former CVRC postdoc trainee, Dr. Matthew Tattersall, DO, assistant professor (CHS), Cardiovascular Medicine, explains new guidelines for managing and diagnosing high blood pressure.
The American Heart Association released new guidelines for diagnosing and managing high blood pressure in November, 2017, and many people are confused about what the new guidelines mean for their health. The new guidelines shift the definition of hypertension to blood pressure greater than 130 over 80 mmHg for adults, rather than the old value of 140 over 90 mmHg. Matthew Tattersall, DO, assistant professor (CHS), Cardiovascular Medicine, explained why. “One of the things we’ve learned from many studies over the years is that the risk of heart attack and stroke really increases from the top number – the systolic number – for 115 and up. For every 20 points higher for that top number, your risk of heart attack and stroke doubles,” he said.
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