For the elderly, as with the rest of the population, a blood pressure reading below 120/80 mmHg is considered normal. In general, lower is better. However, very low blood pressure can sometimes be a cause for concern and should be checked out by a doctor. Doctors classify blood pressures under 140/90 mmHg as either normal or prehypertension. Normal blood pressure is lower than 120/80 mmHg.
Prehypertension is blood pressure between 120 and 139 for the top number, or between 80 and 89 for the bottom number. For example, blood pressure readings of 138/82, 128/89, or 130/86 are all in the prehypertension range. If your eldery parent's blood pressure is in the prehypertension range, it is more likely that your elderly mom or dad will end up with high blood pressure unless the elder takes action to prevent it.
What is High blood Pressure?
A blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher for your elderly parent is considered high blood pressure. Both numbers are important. If one or both numbers are usually high, your aging parent has high blood pressure.
If your elderly parents is being treated for high blood pressure and have repeated readings in the normal range, he/she has high blood pressure.
What Causes High Blood Pressure?
In many senioors with high blood pressure, a single specific cause is not known. This is called essential or primary high blood pressure. Research is ongoing to find the causes of essential high blood pressure.
In some people, high blood pressure is the result of another medical problem or medicine. When the cause is known, this is called secondary high blood pressure.
Who Is At Risk for High Blood Pressure?
About 65 million American adults—nearly 1 in 3—have high blood pressure. Risk factors for high blood that caregivers can watch for include:
- Overweight
- A family history of high blood pressure
- Pre-hypertension (that is, blood pressure in the 120–139/80–89 mmHg range)
- Men over age 45
- Women over 55
Other things that can raise blood pressure include:
- Eating too much salt
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Not getting enough potassium in your diet
- Not doing enough physical activity
- Taking certain medicines
- Having long-lasting stress
- Smoking (smoking can cause a temporary rise in blood pressure)