HealthLink: New Canadian recommendations for blood pressure management
New 2007 blood pressure guidelines developed by the Canadian Hypertension Education Program focus on prevention. These recommendations released by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Blood Pressure Canada and the Canadian Hypertension Society, emphasize the need to recognize the risk of “high-normal” blood pressure and treat it before it develops into high blood pressure. An estimated one million Canadians with “high-normal” blood pressure will develop high blood pressure in the next four years unless diagnosed and treated. High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of death among Canadians, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and dementia.
The new guidelines are based on recent evidence that about half of people with high-normal blood pressure will develop hypertension within four years. About five million Canadian adults (more than 20%) have high blood pressure (140/90 mmHg or more) and another two and a half million are in the high-normal range (130-139/85-89 mmHg). People with a high-normal blood pressure can generally lower their blood pressure with healthy lifestyle changes. The Heart and Stroke Foundation recommends several strategies to help lower blood pressure levels: regular physical activity, healthy food choices, achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, lower salt and alcohol consumption, smoking cessation and stress management. Healthy adults should aim for a normal blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg or less.
HealthLink is an e-mail newsletter from the team of registered dietitians at the Beef Information Centre: a non-profit organization committed to provide credible and timely information. Please share it with colleagues.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation encourages Canadians to take control of their blood pressure with
Patient Friendly Recommendations
Blood Pressure Action Plan™.
New 2007 guidelines for the management of high blood pressure.
Subscribe to HealthLink.