Blood Pressure Can Be Tricky in Elderly

When it comes to seniors suffering from kidney issues, age plays a significant role in what a healthy blood pressure level looks like. When it comes down to it, of all the cardiovascular diseases out there, hypertension (high blood pressure) is the most easily treatable condition there is. So, when looking at patients with chronic kidney disease, this particular team of researchers figured it would be a good place to start when looking at risk factors. What they found was that patients with a systolic reading of over 140 mmHg were at an elevated risk of things like coronary heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and even death. However, as the people falling into this category aged, the severity and frequency of these outcomes declined. People with lower blood pressures (systolic readings of 110 mmHg or below) were also at a higher risk of death, but not typically because of heart disease or stroke. And when it came to diastolic readings, pressure below 70 mmHg was also associated with increased mortality, but again, not because of cardiovascular illnesses. At these levels, other issues came into play.

 

What we can take away from this study is that cardiovascular health is important, and certain populations with specific risk factors need to take their blood pressure readings seriously. Going above or below a certain range is very risky, and keeping this under control at all times is important. Having an elderly loved one with high or low blood pressure presents a new kind of challenge for families as they strive to keep their family as healthy and as happy as possible. But because we often can’t be with our moms or dads around the clock to monitor them, having someone else to do this is a must. Professional in-home caregivers can fill this role perfectly, especially if they are trained in taking blood pressure readings, have emergency training, and can be trusted with this kind of responsibility. Not all caregivers fit this description, so if your loved one falls into a category where blood pressure is an issue, such as we see here with those suffering from chronic kidney disease, then finding the perfect service to provide care to your family is necessary. Taking a few minutes to ask the right questions when you are interviewing a caregiver service can save your family a lot of stress and heartache as a result of this.

 

Lowering blood pressure in the elderly isn’t always a beneficial thing.

 

The important thing to take away from this study is that although current guidelines for lowering blood pressures are helpful in younger groups, when it comes to the elderly, lowering blood pressure too much can have a fatal impact. If you are unsure of what the right path is for your loved one, then be sure to consult with a doctor. Lowering blood pressures is often considered a good thing when hypertension is an issue, but when it comes to the elderly, going too far in the other direction can be a deadly mistake. Be sure that all decisions of this nature go through a medical professional.

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