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This page/column contains information which may be of interest to consumers. The information is based on articles which appear in Australian Prescriber. As Australian Prescriber is written for health professionals, you should discuss any issues raised by this page/column with your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to give a more detailed answer to your questions by reading the main article.

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Australian Prescriber Vol. 26 No. 3 2003

Hypertension: how low to go?

High blood pressure increases the risk of dying of heart disease and stroke. Stopping smoking is the most important thing someone can do to reduce their risk. People whose blood pressure stays high despite exercising, eating healthy food and not smoking may need to take a medicine.

Lowering blood pressure helps to prevent heart disease and stroke, but how low do you go? A blood pressure that is too low can make the patient unwell.

Each patient needs a blood pressure to aim for. This target varies from patient to patient as the risk of heart disease varies. If the patient has high blood pressure but no other risks for heart disease then a target of 160/90 or less may be adequate. People who smoke or have diabetes may need to aim for a lower blood pressure.

Patients who have to aim for a low blood pressure may need more than one medicine to reach their target.