Medical consensus established a new normal blood pressure value to prevent 15% of heart attacks and strokes.

High blood pressure is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world, yet it remains a leading cause of heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and premature death.

In response to this reality, three Argentine scientific societies updated their recommendations to optimize the detection and treatment of this condition.

The Argentine Society of Arterial Hypertension (SAHA), the Argentine Society of Cardiology, and the Argentine Federation of Cardiology have unified criteria in a new consensus that modifies the threshold considered normal blood pressure.

The value that was previously 14/9 (140/90 mmHg) was now set at 13/8 (130/80 mmHg), a change that seeks to significantly reduce the complications associated with this disease.

Pablo Rodríguez, president of SAHA, emphasized that this work represents the continuation of a joint effort that began several years ago.

"About seven years ago, the first joint consensus was reached in Argentina among the three most important societies linked to high blood pressure. Previously, each one issued its own guidelines, but it was decided to unify criteria to have a single national guideline for this disease," he stated.

The official publication of the document is planned in a specialized scientific journal, but key details are already known. Among them is the new blood pressure classification, which aligns local values ​​with those of international guidelines.

According to Rodríguez, "between 130/80 and 140/90 is what we call borderline blood pressure. In many cases, drug treatment isn't necessary, but it is essential to recommend lifestyle changes."

Although the change may seem small, the benefits could be enormous. According to the data presented in the consensus, adopting these new values ​​would prevent at least 15% of heart attacks and up to 18% of strokes.

The explanation is that "the lower the blood pressure is within a safe range, the less strain is placed on the cardiovascular system."

Neurologist Conrado Estol, recognized for his work raising awareness about neurological diseases, strongly criticized the current approach to hypertension: “The problem is as paradoxical as it is worrying. We are increasingly adjusting normal blood pressure levels based on solid studies and international consensus, but in practice—especially in countries like ours—hypertension remains the leading cause of death from heart attacks, strokes, and dementia. The most serious thing is that, despite being an easy condition to diagnose and treat, many doctors do not correctly measure blood pressure or treat those they should. If this were not the case, hypertension would not be a problem.”

Estol also noted that this situation frequently occurs in clinics where patients arrive with neurological symptoms and undiagnosed or poorly controlled hypertension.

The new consensus goes beyond redefining figures. It also proposes improving management strategies, both within and outside of clinics. It highlights the value of home blood pressure monitoring and the need to tailor treatments to each patient's individual characteristics.

Alejandro Andersson, director of the Buenos Aires Institute of Neurology, explained that the update is based on recent meta-analyses and international consensus reports, such as those of the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (AHA), published in 2017. He also pointed to a key study that supported the change: “That study showed that maintaining blood pressure below 130/80 significantly reduces major cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality.”

Andersson referred to the SPRINT study, which included more than 9,000 adults over the age of 50 with high blood pressure and cardiovascular risk.

According to their analysis, even values ​​previously considered “high-normal” (130–139/85–89) already double the risk of stroke in older people and triple the likelihood of heart failure in vulnerable populations.

The specialist also described the risks associated with a blood pressure of 14/9 compared to the new values ​​of 13/8. "The risk of heart attack increases due to progressive damage to the vascular endothelium.

It also increases the likelihood of suffering a stroke, whether ischemic or hemorrhagic, and accelerates kidney and eye damage, often without symptoms.”

He also warned of a growing concern: “Poorly controlled hypertension is increasingly associated with cognitive decline, vascular dementia, and Alzheimer's disease.”

Neurosurgeon Matías Baldoncini, a member of the Neurosurgery Service at Petrona Villegas Hospital in San Fernando, emphasized the importance of regular checkups, including those using digital blood pressure monitors.

He noted that screening is especially important for people with a family history, since hypertension can develop without obvious symptoms.

The Nation (Argentina) / GDA.

*This content was rewritten with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on information published by La Nación (GDA), and reviewed by the journalist and an editor.