High blood pressure is redefined as 130, not 140: US guidelines

LOS ANGELES: High blood pressure was redefined on Monday (Nov 13) by the American Heart Association, which said the disease should be treated sooner, when it reaches 130/80mmHg, not the previous limit of 140/90mmHg.

Doctors now recognise that complications "can occur at those lower numbers," said the first update to comprehensive US guidelines on blood pressure detection and treatment since 2003.

A diagnosis of the new high blood pressure does not necessarily mean a person needs to take medication, but that "it's a yellow light that you need to be lowering your blood pressure, mainly with non-drug approaches," said Paul Whelton, lead author of the guidelines published in the American Heart Association journal, Hypertension, and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Healthy lifestyle changes include losing weight, exercising more, eating healthier, avoiding alcohol and salt, quitting smoking and avoiding stress.

The new standard means that nearly half (46 per cent) of the US population will be defined as having high blood pressure.

Previously, one in three (32 per cent) had the condition, which is the second leading cause of heart disease and stroke, after cigarette smoking.

The normal limit for blood pressure is considered 120 for systolic, or how much pressure the blood places on the artery walls when the heart beats, and 80 for diastolic, which is measured between beats.

Once a person reaches 130/80, "you've already doubled your risk of cardiovascular complications compared to those with a normal level of blood pressure," said Whelton.

"We want to be straight with people - if you already have a doubling of risk, you need to know about it."

PEOPLE IN 40S MOST AFFECTED

Once considered mainly a disorder among people 50 and older, the new guidelines are expected to lead to a surge of people in their 40s with high blood pressure.

"The prevalence of high blood pressure is expected to triple among men under age 45, and double among women under 45," according to the report.

Damage to the blood vessels is already beginning once blood pressure reaches 130/80mmHg, said the guidelines, which were based in part on a major US-government funded study of more than 9,000 people nationwide.

The category of prehypertension, which used to refer to people with systolic pressure of 120-139mmHg, no longer exists, according to the new guidelines.

"People with those readings now will be categorised as having either Elevated (120-129mmHg and less than 80mmHg) or Stage I hypertension (130-139mmHg or 80-89mmHg)."

Medication is only recommended for people with Stage I hypertension "if a patient has already had a cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke, or is at high risk of heart attack or stroke based on age, the presence of diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease or calculation of atherosclerotic risk."

The proper technique must be used to measure blood pressure, and levels "should be based on an average of two to three readings on at least two different occasions," said the report.

"I absolutely agree with the change in what is considered high blood pressure because it allows for early lifestyle changes to be addressed," said Satjit Bhusri, a cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.

"It is important, however, to realise that the change in the definition does not give course to increase prescription of medications, rather that it brings to light the need to make lifestyle changes," Bhusri said in an email to AFP.

The new guidelines were announced at the American Heart Association's 2017 Scientific Sessions conference in Anaheim, California.

Credit: Channel Newsasia

Source: AFP/de
Read more at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/health/high-blood-pressure-is-redefined-as-130-not-140-us-guidelines-9403950

MindChamps Preschool Workshop

Another workshop, many new things learnt and taught. This time round, workshop was conducted for MindChamps preschool, the industry leader in the childhood education. 

The preschool teachers were very enthusiastic and asked many questions. Some of the teachers had back issues and knee issues, they were taught how to manage their issues by increasing their range of motion, flexibility and strength.

I realised the people I talk to still hold many myths regarding musculoskeletal issues, and found the need to always spend some time educating them that managing and treating these issues have evolved since the days of snake oil (haha). 

My hope is that whoever attends a workshop that I've conducted will have learnt something about their physical self and eventually lead a more active and pain-free lifestyle.

Kicking off with theoretical side of the workshop

Stretching those quads

Feels good to stretch our glutes

Are hamstrings always tight? Not with these teachers

Demonstrating the good ol' plank

Doing the super(wo)man

All the teachers were great sport and did the exercises and stretches as best as they could.

Good stuff!

Dry Needling on Clients

Ever since I started practising dry needling and explaining the benefits to clients, I've received very positive feedback from those who have experienced it. I've treated clients who've headaches, chronic shoulder issues, back pain and knee pain just to name a few. Clients often describe the effects of dry needling as "good soreness" and "loosened up".

I've found that incorporating massage with dry needling brings about pronounced effects, nonetheless, dry needling has wonderful effect on its own. Below are some conditions which i've used dry needling for, from head to toe.

Client has chronic left shoulder "pinch". Needles to release trigger points in upper traps, levator scapulae and infraspinatus.

Client has multiple issues, 1) left shoulder tightness (from daily chores), lower back soreness (from horse riding in Mongolia), right knee pain (particularly with squatting), multiple trigger points in right calf.

Client had main issue of headache due to poor posture, needles were used on the sub-occipitals, trapezius, lower back erectors to release his tightness.

Seeing clients having such good results from dry needling, I'm happy to have this tool in my toolbox to help anyone with musculoskeletal issues.