The cuff
The Quiet Number
Blood pressure after 70, without the scare ads
You have had this number taken for years. After 70, it still matters. High blood pressure is tied to strokes, heart failure, and death. That does not change because it is familiar.
A trial called SPRINT surprised a lot of doctors. In people 75 and older, treating blood pressure more carefully, with clinic-style measurement, reduced heart problems and deaths compared with a looser approach.
Falling is a serious fear after 70, and for good reason. A fall can put you in the hospital and take a long time to come back from. Doctors had worried that lowering blood pressure would make people dizzy and they would fall more. In this study, they lowered the pressure without that extra fall risk.
A simple upper-arm cuff at home is worth having. Sit down. Feet on the floor. Five quiet minutes. If you buy one gadget from this magazine, make it a decent upper-arm home monitor. Guessing is worse.
(This magazine may earn a small commission if you purchase a blood pressure (BP) cuff through the link above. The recommended cuff is on the “Independent Validate BP” list and was independently checked for accuracy.)
Do not wait until you feel fine. Many people with high blood pressure feel fine. Do not change a dose because a neighbor did. Do not assume everyone over 70 belongs on the most aggressive plan from that study.
What to take to the doctor's office
“Here are two weeks of morning readings. I get lightheaded when I stand. Can we look at the target that makes sense for me?” If the medication is hard to afford, say so. A prescription you cannot fill does not help you.
This article is for general information. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose, treat, or tell you what your blood pressure should be. Decisions about medication belong with you and your clinician.
Further reading for the curious: Williamson JD, et al. Intensive vs standard blood pressure control and cardiovascular disease in adults 75 years or older (SPRINT). JAMA. 2016.