Further reading

4. What should my blood pressure be?

Management of blood pressure is an essential component of treating patients with heart disease. Based on the current guidelines from Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC8) published in December 2013, these are the current goals for blood pressure based on age and diagnosis.

General population ≥ 60 year: <150/90 mm Hg

General population < 60 year: <140/90 mm Hg

Diabetes mellitus: <140/90 mm Hg

Chronic renal disease: <140/90 mm Hg

There are special considerations that should be noted about these guidelines.

1. Trials that were used to established these guidelines did not include patients without hypertension but have with coronary artery disease or heart failure, so these guidelines should be applied with caution to these population.

2. Medications that were recommended in these guidelines are not applicable to patients with coronary artery disease and heart failure.