The standards have changed for defining hypertension (high blood pressure). This is the second or third time the criteria standards have changed since I finished my Cardiovascular Fellowship in June 1994. In November 2017, the new guidlelines for high blood pressure have been reduced.
The classic 140/90 is now 130/80. This new criteria has lead to an immediate 12% increase in new individuals with blood pressure. Who benefits? More visits to the doctor and more sales for anti-hypertensive medications by pharmaceutical companies.
I feel, as an integrative physician, that blood pressure can be managed without conventional medications. It can be certainly managed effectively with dietary and exercise lifestyle changes as well as supplements and botanical herbal preparations. In addition, other approaches such as meditation, yoga, visual imaging, and acupuncture can be used to lower blood pressure.
Until tomorrow...