Normal healthy adult blood pressure is typically valued at less than or equal to a systolic top value reading of 120 and a diastolic bottom value of 80. High blood pressure, or hypertension, however, is anything above those two values and is a common health issue afflicting close to one-fourth of the adult population in the U.S., according to the journal "Circulation." Age is one of many risk factors that contributes to abnormal blood pressure numbers.
Categories
Outside of the normal blood pressure reading of 120/80, there are three more categories of blood pressure that are progressively worsening degrees of hypertension. Pre-hypertension is determined by values ranging from 120 to 139 systolic and 80 to 89 diastolic. Type I is more serious, ranging from 140 to 159 systolic and 90 to 99 diastolic. Lastly, type II is the most severe and reflects any systolic value 160 and above and diastolic value of 100 and above, according to the journal "Hypertension."
Age and Gender
All other factors aside, it is expected that blood pressure will increase with age most notably past the age of 35, according to "Circulation." The equality of this rise between men and women, however, eventually diverges with men having a greater rise in pressure compared to women until the age of 45. At this point, it converges to a similar rise until the age of 54, as reported by the American Heart Association. Further disparities occur past the age of 54 with women becoming more likely to develop hypertension than men.
Systole and Diastole
Blood pressure is comprised of two values, systole and diastole. Systole is the force of circulating blood as the heart contracts; diastole is the force of circulation as the heart relaxes. These top and bottom values are equally meaningful in their own right and differentially affect people at different points in their life. Typically these readings show a similar rise in change in response to age but tend to diverge past the age of 50. At this point, the systolic value continues to increase with age, whereas a not-so similar drop in diastole occurs simultaneously, according to "Hypertension."
Other Risks
Hypertension poses a significant health risk to all people and because of the age-associated rise in blood pressure, it is especially important to identify and manage it in older adults. Associated health risks that increase with aging include cardiovascular disease, ischemic heart disease, heart failure and heart attack. These diseases can be life-threatening but do have the potential to be managed and prevented with proper care.
What to Do
A well-managed care program that includes anti-hypertensive medication and lifestyle modifications has shown effectiveness in reducing the development or managing hypertension. Lifestyle modifications that are recommended by the American Heart Association for all ages include but are not limited to cessation of smoking, regular exercise, weight loss, sodium restriction and decreased alcohol intake. Incorporation of these changes does not guarantee a normal blood pressure, but does reduce the likelihood of hypertension development at any age.
References
- "Circulation"; Treatment of Hypertension in the Prevention and Management of Ischemic Heart Disease; C. Rosendorff et al.; May 2007
- "Hypertension"; Report on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure; A.V. Chobanian et al.; December 2003
- American Heart Association: High Blood Pressure
