Could Lowering the BP Threshold to Less Than 120/80 mm Hg Be Beneficial for Indians?

New Delhi, Sep 8 (NationPress) As cases of hypertension, or high blood pressure, are significantly increasing in India, especially among the youth, health experts suggest that lowering the BP threshold to less than 120/80 mm Hg as recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA) may enhance awareness and prompt earlier intervention in the nation.

Hypertension is a key modifiable risk factor in the prevention of heart disease, stroke, and mortality.

For the first time since 2017, the AHA has revised its guidelines for those with high blood pressure. The new guidelines redefine BP readings: previously set at a threshold of 130/90 mm Hg for diagnosis, the AHA now categorizes normal blood pressure as anything below 120/80 mm Hg.

According to Dr. Mukesh Goel, Senior Consultant in Cardiothoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at a prominent city hospital, “The revised BP guidelines by the AHA hold significant relevance for the Indian populace due to the alarming rise of hypertension rates in the country.”

“For India, these adjustments are crucial: with nearly 200 million individuals estimated to suffer from hypertension, lowering the diagnostic BP threshold will classify a significantly larger portion of the population as hypertensive, thereby increasing awareness and advocating for early interventions,” he explained.

Dr. Goel emphasized that these guideline changes can help mitigate the effects of the ‘silent killer,’ as many individuals in India remain unaware of their high BP until serious complications arise.

Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Chairman of the Scientific Committee at IMA Cochin, pointed out, “This is primarily because hypertension often shows no early symptoms.” Furthermore, among those undergoing treatment, not everyone achieves sufficient control.

While “the new guidelines recommend more stringent blood pressure management based on recent large-scale trials that support this direction, there are also studies indicating that aggressive hypertension treatment may not improve outcomes and could even result in adverse effects such as low blood pressure, fainting, and kidney damage,” he noted.

Thus, he advocates for personalized treatment plans for hypertension.

Importantly, the guidelines support the use of potassium-based salt substitutes in home cooking, excluding patients with Chronic Kidney Disease or those on medications that hinder potassium excretion.

“This aligns well with Indian culinary practices, where home-cooked, salty meals are prevalent,” stated Dr. Vivekanand Jha, Executive Director of The George Institute for Global Health, India.

Moreover, the “promotion of collaborative management, involving community health workers (ASHA) and nurses, is well-suited to India’s healthcare framework, particularly in rural or primary care environments,” he added.

Given that cardiovascular risk factors are cumulative, it is also vital to “avoid tobacco, decrease alcohol intake, enhance physical activity, maintain a healthy weight, and adhere to a balanced diet while minimizing salt consumption,” Jayadevan concluded.