{"id":2747,"date":"2023-06-26T11:50:39","date_gmt":"2023-06-26T11:50:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cherishedagency.com\/?p=2747"},"modified":"2023-06-26T11:50:39","modified_gmt":"2023-06-26T11:50:39","slug":"managing-blood-pressure-strategies-for-seniors-receiving-in-home-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cherishedagency.com\/managing-blood-pressure-strategies-for-seniors-receiving-in-home-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Managing blood pressure: strategies for seniors receiving in-home care"},"content":{"rendered":"
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common concern among the elderly population.<\/p>\n
With age, the flexibility of our blood vessels diminishes, leading to a general rise in blood pressure levels. High blood pressure in the elderly can lead to a variety of health problems, including increased risk of heart attack and stroke, kidney disease, vision problems, cognitive impairment, reduced mobility and falls.<\/p>\n
It’s important for elderly individuals and their caregivers to have a target blood pressure goal, monitor their blood pressure regularly and work with a health care provider to manage hypertension through lifestyle changes and\/or medication.<\/p>\n
Blood pressure is measured with two numbers: The first, systolic blood pressure, gauges the force exerted on your artery walls during a heartbeat. Diastolic pressure, the second number, measures the arterial pressure during the resting phase between heartbeats.<\/p>\n
The recommended blood pressure targets for the elderly may vary depending on the overall health of the individual and presence of other medical conditions. However, in general, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association recommend<\/a> that blood pressure should be less than 130\/80 mmHg for individuals aged 65 years or older.<\/p>\n For individuals who have diabetes or chronic kidney disease, the target blood pressure may be even lower. Since each person is different, working with a health care professional to establish a suitable blood pressure goal tailored to individual health considerations is crucial.<\/p>\n Studies have shown that intensive blood pressure control can have a significant effect on reducing mortality rates in individuals with hypertension.<\/p>\n The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial<\/a> (SPRINT), a large-scale randomized controlled trial, found that among adults with hypertension and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, targeting a systolic blood pressure of less than 120 mmHg, as compared to less than 140 mmHg, resulted in lower rates of death from any cause (27.6% lower) and lower rates of heart failure, but with an increased risk of side effects such as hypotension and acute kidney injury.<\/p>\nEffects of intensive blood pressure control on mortality<\/h2>\n