Blood Pressure Alert

New rules mean more people are in the danger zone.

- Mary Anne Dunkin

If your blood pressure is elevated but you think you’re still in the safe range, the nation’s top heart organizations want you to think again. New guidelines released by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology lowered the diagnostic threshold for stage 1 high blood pressure to 130/80, down from 140/90. Evidence shows that this much lower threshold can help reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke in more people.