Local heart doctors say an important new study recommending that patients reduce their blood pressure below previous guidelines could save thousand of lives. But several local cardiologists say the most important result of the study may be to convince more adults they have a blood pressure problem that needs treatment.
“High blood pressure doesn’t make you feel bad, that’s why we call it the silent killer,” said Dr. Alison Bailey, director of preventive cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation services at Erlanger. “But it is the No. 1 risk factor for a lot of bad things – heart failure, stroke and coronary heart disease or heart attacks.”
“I think the [study’s] impact is huge in raising awareness,” said Dr. Lisa Carkner, a senior cardiologist at the Chattanooga Heart Institute at CHI Memorial hospital. It will show patients that “controlling their levels to better levels can really impact their health, with mortality significantly lowered.”
By the numbers
› Age 55 with high blood pressure: 50%› Age 75 with high blood pressure: 66%› Percent who know they have high blood pressure: 80%› Percent of those who keep it under control: 50%Source: Dr. Alison Bailey, Erlanger Hospital
More than half of all Americans over age 50 have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, and two-thirds of those over age 75, Bailey said.