Table of Contents
FDA Consumer magazine
July-August 1999
|
Blood Pressure Stages (mm Hg) |
No Risk |
Medium Risk* |
High Risk** |
|
High-normal (130-139/85-89) |
Lifestyle changes |
Lifestyle changes |
Lifestyle changes and drug therapy |
|
Stage 1 (140-159/90-99) |
Lifestyle changes (up to one year) |
Lifestyle changes (up to six months) |
Lifestyle changes and drug therapy |
|
Stages 2 and 3 (160 or higher/100 or higher) |
Lifestyle changes and drug therapy |
Lifestyle changes and drug therapy |
Lifestyle changes and drug therapy |
* have one or more of these risk factors: smoking, abnormal blood lipid levels, diabetes, over 60 in age, male or postmenopausal female, or family history of heart disease involving women under 65 or men under 55
** have heart disease, history of stroke, kidney disease, diabetes, the eye disease retinopathy, or peripheral arterial disease with or without other risk factors
(Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Sixth Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure, 1997)
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