Last week, the National Institute of Health released some news that federal officials are calling “potentially life-saving.” In a study of 9,300 high blood pressure patients aged 50 and over, those who were able to reduce their systolic blood pressure to less than 120 had their risk of heart attack, heart failure, and strokes lowered by a third. Their risk of death went down by nearly a quarter. For years, 140 has been the cutoff for high blood pressure, so this new number represents a radical shift. What can you do with this news?
First, know the numbers. Systolic blood pressure is the force that pushes your blood through your arteries when your heart beats. It’s the figure you get at the top of your reading. Diastolic blood pressure shows the pressure in the arteries when your heart is resting between beats. It’s the figure at the bottom, and for this, anything over 80 is considered high.
Second, know your numbers. At Oscar, blood pressure screenings are included in your free annual Wellness visit or your Well Woman exam, so that’s a great way to stay on top of this. If you’re an Oscar member and are looking for a provider, our Care Router can help you find someone that’s right for you.