Monday, February 27, 2017

ACP and AAFP Publish New Hypertension Guidelines for 60+ Patients






Specializing in gastroenterology and internal medicine, Dr. Soloman Shah, MD, has served as a physician with Gastrointestinal Medical Associates in Reston, Virginia, for more than 17 years. In conjunction with his practice, Dr. Soloman Shah, MD, is a member of the American College of Physicians

In conjunction with the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American College of Physicians (ACP) has released new guidelines for optimal systolic blood pressure levels in patients older than 60 who suffer from high blood pressure. The new recommendations were published in a recent issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, a peer-reviewed scientific journal of the ACP.

In the new recommendations, ACP and AAFP suggest that doctors begin treating these adults when they show systolic levels greater than 150 mm Hg. They also suggest increased drug therapy for these patients to reach a target systolic level of 140 mm Hg if they have experienced a stroke or transient ischemic attack before, or if they are at an elevated risk of heart disease based on other concomitant factors.