The AHA, American College of Cardiology (ACC), and 11 other health organizations recently released new guidelines on high blood pressure, the first update in 7 years. The recommendations, published on 14/8 in Circulation, Hypertension, and JACC, emphasize early action to prevent long-term damage.

According to the European Society of Cardiology and the Vietnam Heart Association, high blood pressure is defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg, meaning normal blood pressure should be below 140/90 mmHg.

High blood pressure is considered a "silent killer" because it often has no typical symptoms. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 1.5 billion people worldwide have high blood pressure. The number of patients is increasing rapidly in developing countries in Asia and Africa.

In Vietnam, over 12 million people have high blood pressure. Of these, 9.7 million are unaware of their condition or are not receiving effective treatment, according to a 2020 survey by the Vietnam Heart Institute. Two years later, an epidemiological study indicated that 25% of adults have high blood pressure – one in every 4 adults, with rates reaching 40% in some areas.

Experts believe early intervention is crucial for protecting cardiovascular health. "High blood pressure is the leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease," said Daniel W. Jones, chair of the writing committee and professor emeritus of medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Early blood pressure control also helps prevent cognitive decline and protect brain health. "There's now clearer and stronger evidence that aggressively lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of cognitive decline and dementia," Professor Jones added.

Key Changes in the Guidelines

Instead of using a general chart, the new guidelines employ the PREVENT tool, a system that calculates the risk of heart attack or stroke over the next 10 to 30 years. This tool considers not only blood pressure but also cholesterol, kidney function, and metabolic issues.

The guidelines encourage doctors to act sooner by prescribing medication promptly. Individuals with stage 1 hypertension (130-139/80-89 mmHg) should start medication if lifestyle changes are ineffective after 3 to 6 months. Previously, doctors typically prescribed medication for those with blood pressure above 140 mmHg.

"Early intervention helps slow the age-related increase in blood pressure and significantly reduces the risk of future cardiovascular disease," Professor Jones emphasized.

A notable change is the recommendation to completely eliminate alcohol, rather than just limiting it. "Ideally, abstinence is best. For those who still want to drink, women should have less than one drink per day and men less than two," Jones explained.

"Many people enjoy alcohol, but given the evidence of its harm, we want people to make informed decisions," he added. "While individuals respond differently to alcohol and blood pressure, we still recommend complete abstinence."

Jones noted that the recommendations on alcohol and reducing daily sodium intake from 2,300 mg to 1,500 mg are the two most significant changes in the 2025 guidelines. One teaspoon of regular table salt contains about 2,325 mg of sodium, so 1,500 mg of sodium is equivalent to about two-thirds of a teaspoon of salt.

Experts also emphasized the importance of blood pressure control during pregnancy to protect both mother and child.

Experts recommend cutting back on alcohol to control blood pressure. Photo: Phuong Hang

Maintained Principles

Several standards from the previous guidelines remain, including stress management through exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, with a goal of losing at least 5% of body weight in overweight or obese individuals.

A healthy diet remains crucial. The recommendations encourage eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, and low-fat dairy products, combined with lean meat, poultry, and fish.

Experts believe these healthy habits, combined with timely medical intervention when needed, can significantly reduce long-term complications.

Hoang Dung (According to Fox News)