The American Heart Association revised its blood pressure categories.

100% agree with this doctor…So many older people are on multiple BP meds causing them to be weak/dizzy/fall. Combine that with over-prescribing of pain meds and BP is too low. We get falls coming to the hospital all the time because of this. Additionally BP drops for many people in upright/standing position. But they only check it sitting/lying.

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But they only check it sitting/lying.

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How in the year of our Lord 2025 we haven’t come up with a better way than one static blood pressure check to put people on meds is beyond me

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but the flip side of this is people not going to get it checked out until they're in a cardiac emergency. All kinds of nasty stuff can happen - AFib, stroke, heart attack - while the ER is attempting to get the pressure lowered.

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This has absolutely zero to do with over prescribing

The fiancé’s BP was a little elevated (just at 140/80) a couple months back so his doctor put him on an additional med. It dropped to like 95 over 65 and he felt like absolute shite. Started getting close to passing out every time he stood up. It was awful. Ended up having to come off it and just agreeing with the GP that it is what it is.

This will absolutely cause issues with over prescribing BP meds.

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I wonder if these new BP categories will encourage him to recommend BP meds for me now?

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I doubt it. I think the upper levels are what needs to be addressed more. Also, blood pressure readings like yours mean a lot more over time. A single high reading can be an outlier or "white coat syndrome" but not necessarily an indication of trouble.

If it creeps up there, increasing cardio, dropping a few pounds, cutting out smoking, and limiting salt/alcohol can make a world of difference.

But, some people, like my mom, just have high blood pressure. She is a petite lady who doesn't drink or smoke. It will go haywire.

I just think healthcare in America should be more preventative focusing on diet and exercise. But that doesn’t give any money to the pharmaceutical companies. It’s easier to just write a prescription. But I will concur many people are lazy and don’t want to put in the effort either.

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This has absolutely zero to do with over prescribing

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I was responding to a person who was discussing the downside of over prescribing. Clearly what I listed had nothing to do with prescribing anything at all.

AI on how BP gets measured

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“You spend 20 minutes searching for a parking spot.
You wait an hour, they call you in.
CBA Ratched sets you down in a chair, immediately slaps a too small cuff right over your jacket.
Pump, pump, pump — my arm’s turning purple — my fingers are tingling and boom
‘190 over 120, whoa!! you must be stressed.’
Yeah… stressed from losing blood flow and realizing my coat just got a medical degree.”

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I was dropping bp at night because I was only taking BP when I was stressed (which was often during the day). I've worked on my anxiety and work stress and gotten off the BP meds because apparently I dropped so much.