High blood pressure is a significant threat to public health, affecting nearly half of U.S. adults. Leading health groups have released new guidelines to prevent long-term damage, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and lifestyle changes.
The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) teamed up with 11 other organizations to create a revised set of blood pressure management recommendations. These updated guidelines are the first major update since 2017 and focus on prevention, early treatment, and protecting heart and brain health.
According to experts, high blood pressure is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, making it essential to act sooner rather than later. The new guidelines use the PREVENT method, which calculates an individual’s 10- and 30-year risk of heart attack or stroke, taking into account factors such as cholesterol, kidney health, metabolic issues, and geographical location.
The guidelines also recommend cutting out alcohol, with recommendations for women to limit their consumption to less than one serving per day and men to limit theirs to less than two servings. Reducing sodium intake is another key recommendation, aiming to limit daily intake to 1500mg from the previous 2300mg.
Nutrition plays a crucial role in managing blood pressure, with experts recommending a healthy diet high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, as well as lean meats and poultry. Controlling stress through exercise and maintaining a healthy weight are also essential for reducing blood pressure risk.
Early medical intervention when needed can significantly reduce long-term complications, and controlling blood pressure earlier in life has been shown to help prevent dementia and preserve brain health.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/cutting-out-alcohol-medicating-sooner-could-prevent-silent-killer-experts-say