We often hear: "Oh, your blood pressure should be 100 plus your age!" True or False?

FALSE! This is a misconception about aging and higher blood pressure.

Recent studies have discovered that in Western societies, blood pressure does gradually increase in adulthood, but it does not increase in less industrialized societies. In older females blood pressure is slightly higher than in their male counterparts. Statistically, an African American adult, living in the U. S. will have a higher blood pressure than a white adult of the same age. Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Mexicans and Filipinos have a higher incidence of high blood pressure than whites. Japanese-Americans and Native Americans have a lower prevalence of high blood pressure than whites.

In cross-cultural studies, the changes that were thought to be age related have been found to be influenced much more by lifestyle and environment than by simply aging. Many older adults are affected by other conditions that can cause high blood pressure. Processes that support this are atherosclerosis, AKA "hardening of the arteries," kidney problems, and obesity. Physiological changes due to aging in the blood vessels (within the thickness of the different layers) may cause an increase in blood pressure, but only a SLIGHT increase, certainly not "100 + your age".

Here are some general recommendations to prevent high blood pressure:

• Avoidance of tobacco.

• Avoid adding salt to foods. Substitute other flavors, e.g., "Mr. Dash."

• Regular exercise.

• Limit cocktails to one or two a day.

• Maintain weight at a moderate level for one's age and height.

For more information, you can contact:

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Information Center
P.O. Box 30105
Bethesda, MD 20824-0105
(301) 251-1222