Have you been concerned about high blood pressure (hypertension)? Or are you worried about an older relative having a stroke or heart attacks?
You’re not alone. After all, hypertension is the most common chronic condition among older adults, and medications for blood pressure (BP) are among the most commonly taken drugs in the US.
Even more important: poorly controlled hypertension is a major contributor to the most common causes of death and disability in older adults: strokes, heart attacks, and heart failure.
So it’s certainly sensible for older adults – and for those helping aging parents – to think about lowering blood pressure.
And once you start thinking about high blood pressure, you’ll probably start to wonder.
Are the blood pressure medications you’re taking enough? Is your blood pressure at the “right” level or should you and your doctors work on changing things?
And what about that major research – the SPRINT trial — that made the news in 2015? (In this study, older adults randomized to aim for a lower BP did better than those who got “standard” BP treatment.)
These are excellent questions to ask, so I’d like to help you answer them.
Now, I can’t provide exact answers on the Internet. But what I can do is provide a sensible process that will help you successfully address these questions about lowering blood pressure.
In this article, I’ll share with you the process that I use to:
- Assess an older person’s blood pressure management plan, and
- Determine whether we should attempt changes.
If you’re an older adult, you can use this approach to get started assessing your own BP management plan. This will help you to better work with your doctors on assessing and managing your blood pressure.
If you are helping an older relative manage health, you can follow these steps on behalf of your relative.
But first, let’s review a few blood pressure fundamentals, namely:
- Key terms related to blood pressure
- What’s considered normal blood pressure by age
- How to measure blood pressure (very important!)
Key terms about blood pressure and hypertension
- Systolic blood pressure (SBP): the “top number” when BP is checked. This reflects the pressure in the arteries when the heart squeezes. It’s by far the most important number to consider when it comes to older adults.
- Diastolic blood pressure (DBP): the “lower number” when BP is checked. This reflects the pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes.
- Pulse: the heart rate. Automatic BP monitors report pulse along with BP. Doctors must evaluate a person’s heart rate when considering a change in BP medication.
- Hypertension (also known as “high blood pressure”): Usually defined as SBP> 130 and/or DBP > 80. If only the systolic BP is high, this is called “isolated systolic hypertension.” This type of hypertension is very common in older adults, as aging is associated with both increases in systolic BP and decreases in diastolic BP.
What is considered normal blood pressure in older adults?
As of 2017, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) are defining normal blood pressure and high blood pressure using the same ranges for all adults, regardless of age or gender.
Here is the definition of normal blood pressure (and hypertension) per the ACC/AHA:
| BP CATEGORY | SYSTOLIC BP | DIASTOLIC BP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | <120 mm Hg | and | <80 mm Hg |
| Elevated | 120–129 mm Hg | and | <80 mm Hg |
| Hypertension | |||
| Stage 1 | 130–139 mm Hg | or | 80–89 mm Hg |
| Stage 2 | ≥140 mm Hg | or | ≥90 mm Hg |
In short, if you are wondering what is “normal” blood pressure by age: whether a person is in their 60s, 70s, 80s, or 90s, normal blood pressure is considered to be a BP less than 120/80.
Furthermore, the definition of normal blood pressure does not vary between men and women.
(For more on BP guidelines, see my article What the Blood Pressure Guidelines — & Research — Mean For Older Adults.)
How to measure blood pressure
As you can imagine, a key component of optimizing BP management is to measure an older person’s BP and pulse.
Measuring BP allows us to:
- Diagnose people with hypertension,
- Determine how severe it is (which helps us all decide how important it is to intervene),
- Evaluate how well people are responding to a treatment plan, whether that plan involves lifestyle changes or medication or both.
Measuring BP to get blood pressure readings usually sounds straightforward.
People assume it’s just a matter of finding out what the BP was at the doctor’s office, or getting a reading from a home monitor, or maybe even a reading from a health fair or drugstore.
But in fact, research has shown that a single office-based BP reading often does not represent a person’s usual BP. One study even found that the “usual” way of measuring BP misdiagnosed 24-32% of volunteers!
This is because people are often anxious when at the doctor’s office, which can temporarily raise BP. Studies estimate this “white-coat hypertension” affects 10-20% of people.
Furthermore, BP is constantly changing a bit, moment to moment. So experts agree that it’s much better to obtain several readings and average them, in order to properly assess a person’s usual BP.
For instance, in the ground-breaking SPRINT trial of intensive BP lowering in older adults, the researchers checked BP by having participants first rest quietly in a room for five minutes. Then an automatic monitor checked BP three times in a row, with a one-minute interval between each check. The average of these three readings was then used to assess BP and make changes to hypertension medications, if necessary.
As you can imagine, this is not the way most people’s blood pressure is measured by their doctors.
So what’s better?
Currently, the “gold standard” for evaluating blood pressure is called “ambulatory blood pressure monitoring” (ABPM). It involves wearing a special monitor that checks BP every 15-60 minutes over 24 hours. The doctors then receive a report showing the average daytime BP and average nighttime BP.
Such monitoring provides excellent information for patients and doctors. In fact, research shows that ABPM is a better predictor of future cardiovascular events (e.g. heart attacks, strokes) than conventional office-based BP measurements are. However, ABPM is not yet widely available, since it requires special equipment and may not be covered by insurance.
So what is considered next best? Research shows that home blood pressure measurements are better than “usual-care” office BP measurements. Meaning, home BP measurements correlate better to the BP that is measured if one uses the fancy 24-hour ambulatory monitoring approach.
Based on these facts, in 2008 the American Heart Association, American Society of Hypertension, and Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association issued a joint scientific statement calling for home BP measurements to become a routine component of BP measurement in people with known or suspected hypertension.
They also suggested that clinicians review a week’s worth of home BP readings before making a clinical decision or changing a person’s medications.
(You can read the American Heart Association’s 2019 guidelines on measuring blood pressure at home here, in section 4. You can also learn more about home BP monitoring here: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring: Current Status and New Developments.)
Now that I’ve made the case for checking BP carefully at home, let me share the six-step process you can use to assess your blood pressure management plan.
6 steps to better high blood pressure treatment in aging
1.Obtain a high-quality home blood pressure monitor.
Why: Studies have found that home-based measurements are better than office-based BP measurements. They better reflect a person’s BP over 24 hours.
Notes: See “Choosing & Using a Home Blood Pressure Monitor” for more details on choosing a monitor. Be sure to get one that measures BP at the upper arm (those wrist ones are not accurate enough!). Ask your doctor for help validating that your home monitor is getting accurate readings.
2. Check blood pressure twice a day, every day for one week.
Why: Since blood pressure is constantly changing a bit — or sometimes a lot — in the body, checking several days in a row means that you’ll have several readings that can be averaged.
Aim to check at the same times every day. An average of several daily readings provides a more accurate picture of a person’s BP.
Checking in the morning and evening is recommended by many experts. This is because BP can vary during the day, especially in people who are taking BP medications. But if checking twice a day seems too hard, just check once a day.
Experts also often say to check BP in the morning before any medications are taken. However, if there have been any concerns about falls, I like to review readings taken about an hour after medication. This is because I want to make sure the BP isn’t falling too low when a person takes their medication.
Optional but helpful: Use a “three measurements in a row” technique if possible. The SPRINT trial measured BP by letting participants rest quietly for five minutes, and then having the monitor check the BP three times in a row, with a one-minute pause between each check. Those three readings were then averaged into a reading for the day.
Some home blood pressure monitors have a feature that makes this easy to do.
3. Make an up-to-date list of all current medications.
Why: Your doctors will need to know exactly what medications you are taking, in order to evaluate your blood pressure treatment plan.
Notes:
- Start by listing those for heart or BP.
- But list all others, because some medications that are not prescribed for BP can still affect BP (such as Flomax, which can be used to improve urination when a man has an enlarged prostate).
- Also list all supplements, vitamins, herbs, and over-the-counter medications.
- Be sure to note if any medication is not being taken exactly as prescribed. It’s especially important for the doctors to know if an older person has been skipping any of the medications that affect BP.
- Note any concerns about side-effects, cost, or other concerns related to continuing the medication.
4. List the lifestyle approaches to lowering BP that you are following (or interested in).
Why: Although prescription medications are the main way doctors often try to treat hypertension, many lifestyle changes have been shown to help lower BP as well.
You’ll want to let your doctor know which of these you are using. Also, let your doctor know if you’d be interested in incorporating any of these into your BP management plan.
Many of these lifestyle changes are great for older adults, because they benefit health in many ways but have fewer risks than taking prescription medication.
Note: Proven approaches to lower high blood pressure include:
- Weight loss
- Exercise
- The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet
- Reducing sodium (salt) intake, especially in people who seem to be salt-sensitive
- Not smoking
- Meditation
5. Make an appointment to discuss blood pressure management with your usual doctor.
Why: Your doctor can help you identify a good target blood pressure goal, and can help you develop a plan to reach that goal. Be sure to bring up any concerns regarding falls, or other potential side-effects of treatment.
Notes:
- Bring in your home BP readings and your up-to-date medication list.
- Consider asking the doctor to check BP sitting and standing, especially if you’ve had any concerns about falls
- Ask your doctor what target BP goal they recommend for you, given your health history.
- Research indicates that the biggest benefit is in getting systolic BP down to the 140s. A systolic BP target goal of <150 is a good starting place for most frail older adults. This goal used to be recommended by major guidelines in 2013 and in 2017. More recent blood pressure guidelines recommend getting to <140.
- Results from SPRINT suggest that if you’re similar to the SPRINT participants, you may experience additional benefits by aiming for a systolic BP close to 120. If you’re considering this, be sure to read my article explaining SPRINT and related research, so that you’ll have a clear understanding of how likely you are to benefit (at best, an estimated 1 in 27 chance based on the research) and what are the risks and burdens.
- I personally generally aim for a systolic BP of 140-150 for frail older patients, and 130-135 for less frail older adults. If we get to a SBP of 130, then we consider whether to aim for an even lower BP, depending on the older person’s health and willingness to try more intensive BP treatment.
- Ask your doctor about taking most (or maybe even all) of your BP medications at night.
- A randomized trial published in 2019 found that taking BP medications at bedtime (rather than in the morning) resulted in lower ambulatory blood pressure readings and fewer cardiovascular events!
- Taking BP medications at night is likely to be a simple way to help them be more effective. For more on taking blood pressure medication at night, see this Harvard Heart Letter: Is nighttime the right time for blood pressure drugs?
6. Plan to follow up to see how your BP plan is working, and to make adjustments if needed.
Why: Whatever you and your doctors decide to do, you’ll want to make a plan for seeing how your blood pressure responds to the changes.
Note: Remember that experts say a week’s worth of home BP monitoring is more accurate than a follow-up BP check in the office.
Be sure to ask your doctor to specify:
- When should you undertake this home monitoring? (Most BP medications will take their full effect within 1 week. Lifestyle changes will take weeks to months to have an effect.)
- When will you be meeting — by phone or in-person — to discuss the results of the follow-up BP monitoring?
- What level of high (or low) BP should trigger a call to the office?
Also, be sure to let your doctor know if you’ve been having any symptoms that might be related to low blood pressure, such as light-headedness or dizziness when you stand up. Especially if your sitting systolic BP is less than 120, or if your BP drops when you stand up, you might be taking more blood pressure medication than is needed.
And that’s it!
Make the effort
Now, this approach is more work than usual. It takes a little more time and effort than just going to your doctor and having them check your blood pressure.
But the benefits make this time well spent. Think about it.
You and your doctor get a more accurate picture of what is going on inside your body.
You get to help create a blood pressure management plan that is just right for you.
You may even help prevent some serious health problems. Like a heart attack or stroke, or a serious fall due to incorrect medication.
No one likes the thought of letting a chronic condition get dangerously out of control. And no one likes to take more medication than they need to.
You can help keep this from happening.
Just follow this process for assessing a blood pressure management plan, and you’ll be on your way to confirming that you’re following a blood pressure management plan that’s right for you, or for your older parent.
This article was last reviewed and updated by Dr. Kernisan in March 2024.
MARY HILL says
I am an 81 year old female. I had complete hip replacement because it was gone from osteoarthritis or from 2 years of prednisone treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica . I had a very good surgeon and had no problem after surgery, only took tylenol and ice pack a short time. it has been almost 4 years with no problem or pain. My concern now is both knees are at severe level with osteoarthritis and need surgery one at a time. I am terrified of being in a wheelchair and in a rest home. If I pass a nuclear stress test (which I am terrified of taking) which is scheduled, the same surgeon that did hip will do the surgery. I am thinking it may take 2 years for both knees for this and recovery. I will be 83. I live alone and have no one to help with anything. I know you can’t tell me what to do, but just wanted your thoughts about it. I really like reading your writings. You are helping so many that do not get information at doctors offices. Thank you so much for caring for people.
Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH says
So glad you find this site helpful, thank you for letting me know!
I can see why you’d be concerned about your upcoming surgery. You’re right that it can take a while to recover after joint surgery; even if one had an easy recovery a few years before, things might go differently this time, and anyway as one gets older, recovery tends to take the body longer.
I can’t tell you what to do, but I do think there are ways you can look into getting some additional help and support, both to help you through this particular surgery and because every older person should have a backup plan for how to get help if/when it becomes needed. You live alone and it sounds like you don’t have family nearby. Some options to consider:
– Can you afford to hire a professional geriatric care manager to assist you?
– If not, are there any non-profits or faith communities that provide volunteer or low-cost help to older adults?
– Have you checked with your local Area Agency on Aging?
– Do you have any friends or more distant family members that you could reach out?
I also recommend trying get your power of attorney paperwork done prior to surgery, if possible. (Of course, for this you will need to be able to identify suitable surrogate decision-makers; some states have professionals who provide this service for a fee.)
It is wise to plan ahead for common problems. But if you are terrified, try to get help addressing that feeling before surgery, because honestly, feeling terrified stresses the body and makes it harder to recover quickly. There are lots of ways to get support or otherwise address fear, including online or local support groups, prayer, meditation, counseling, etc.
It is hard when one lives alone and doesn’t have family, but with a little extra creativity and effort, you may be able to find some assistance. Good luck and take care!
Mark says
I have been having balance problems and eye problems . I also get optical migraines whenever I look at bright shiny objects . Take a coke and in 5 min the eyes are better . Had MRI.. fine . They say I have vertigo which put me in er for a few hours one night .. Had this balance problem which comes and goes all day . Nights after shower much better and sleeping is great .. i believe nerves are causing this in head .. would like your opinion . Thank you
Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH says
Your situation sounds complicated and it’s not clear to me that it’s related to blood pressure, although that may be playing a role. I would recommend getting a thorough evaluation, perhaps from a neurology specialist.
Sarah Michaels says
Hello,
My father is 57, he had a recent accident and at the hospital he was diagnosed wih hypertension, his blood pressure was as high as 260/180. They monitored him for two days and sent us home, last bp was about 130/80. I was wondering, what should i look out for in the next few days/weeks? What are the current risks he has? I didnt get a clear answer from the doctors.
Sarah Michaels says
Also, he is not obese, follows a healthy diet, doesnt smoke and always exercises. So it came as a shock for us.
Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH says
Also possible that it was high after his accident because he was stressed by the accident and by being in the hospital. I would certainly recommend continuing to check it at home.
Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH says
For just hypertension, there is usually not much to look out for in the way of symptoms, it’s usually more a matter of checking BP at home regularly (possibly every day) to make sure that it’s not too high or too low, and then this information can also be used to adjust BP meds.
Very high BP can cause headache (or sometimes shortness of breath), and low BP can cause lightheadedness. Good luck!
Kit Tumbaga says
My grandmother is 83 years old. She recently just got home from the hospital after a high blood pressure. She is currently on medication. Her cardiologist asked us to monitor her BP in the morning and evening. In the morning, it’s high around >170 and same goes in the evening. After taking medicine, it normalizes.
Can she move around the house? Like clean a bit, go for a shower or walk around the neighborhood? She does not like being stuck at home. What kind of movements is she allowed and not allowed to do?
I wonder what’s going on with the spike of BP every morning and before bedtime. She does not feel anything. Does not have dizzy spells or chest pains.
Her blood results only showed high cholesterol levels. Kidney and bladder are normal. Although her X-ray showed heart is enlarged? Can this heart enlargement be reversed with the BP medication and proper diet? Thanks
Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH says
You should ask your grandmother’s doctors just to be sure. But in general, it should be fine to move around the house, even if she’s being treated for high BP.
Be sure to let her doctors know if she experiences any symptoms when she exerts herself, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, or headache.
The changes in BP you describe are sometimes caused by medication wearing off, but they can also be caused by other things affecting the body.
Her doctors should be able to explain to you why her heart appears enlarged. Often this is related to having some heart failure, which can be caused by chronic high BP. It does sometimes get better with good BP treatment and other good cardiovascular care. Good luck!
jim lamb says
great information! my BP spikes at least 2 times a year 150/88 to 206/109 with no med or life style changes. no smoke, no drink, no fat. i double medications that seem to have no effect. then one day it is back to normal. i take the 3 different medications but it seems not to matter for the “spike” period which lasts about 2 weeks. i do the daily measurements at home plus i can tell when it’s high or low by the way i feel. (quite accurately) any ideas?
Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH says
hm. I’m not sure what to think of that. I have had patients suddenly develop much higher than usual blood pressure, but this pattern you describe of it happening about twice a year, lasting for two weeks, and then resolving on its own sounds unusual. I’m not sure what would cause such a phenomenon. I would recommend seeing your usual health provider next time it happens and seeing if that person can help you figure it out. Or you could consult with a physician who is a specialist in hypertension and secondary hypertension. Good luck!
Bee Lilli Bennett says
My blood pressure is usually between 180 – 190 systolic and 86 – 110 diastolic. I am 71 years old and have mitochondrial dysfunction. The symptoms are muscle weakness, chronic fatigue, rapid heartbeat when walking more than a few yards; hence I am extremely sedentary. I take 75g Losartan (UK brand?) plus 75g aspirin a day. My last blood pressure tests at the surgery and at the hospital didn’t seem to raise an eyebrow which really surprised me since they were very high as usual. Do you think this is due to my health condition? My feet and ankles are always swollen at the end of each day.
NB: before my mitochondrial condition (12 years ago) I was pretty fit and active and enjoying my life immensely and my blood pressure was lower but still not within a healthy range.
Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH says
I am not very familiar with mitochondrial disorders, they are relatively uncommon. As far as I know, the symptoms usually relate to muscle problems. My guess would be that your high blood pressure is not particularly related. And even if it were related, that doesn’t explain why it shouldn’t be treated with anti-hypertensive medication or other approaches.
I would recommend asking your health providers to discuss your high BP with you. If you would like to reduce your cardiovascular risk, you should perhaps tell them this is important to you, and then ask for their help addressing your high BP. Good luck!
Ester P Mendoza says
I find the information and the comments of your readers very helpful. Am not taking any BP medications but it is good to know how to maintain an acceptable BP especially for the elderly.
Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH says
Thank you!
ken says
i am currently 63 years old and was on a higher daily dose of zestoretic from about 1992-2010 for 140/90 BP and slowly reduced my need (lower mg) for zestoretic by paying more attention to my health (diet, weight, exercise, etc), eventually (about 2014) i got down to 10mg of lisinopril (no more hctz) about once per week or as needed since i was monitoring BP at home. in late 2016, a new doctor recommended that i stop taking 10mg lisinopril, and my blood pressure was usually low about 100/60 after breakfast or exercise and would go up to about 130/90 in the evening. in 2017, my BP was 150/90 the morning before hernia surgery. anyway, long story short my BP seems to fluctuate a lot during the day, low (100/60) after exercise, low after breakfast, high (130/90) before going to bed. the low BP periods get shorter and shorter so i went back to taking 10mg lisinopril as needed, about once every 2 or 3 weeks and the low BP periods get long again. also my pulse seems to get higher (80) when my BP gets lower 100/60 and my pulse gets lower (70) when my BP gets higher (130/90). anyway, i recently moved so probably need to see another new doctor, but thought i would just let you know what is going on.
Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH says
Fluctuations in BP throughout the day are pretty common; what you describe doesn’t sound exceptional or very worrisome, but of course it’s best to check on that with your doctor or someone who can examine you and review your health history.
Also common for the pulse to increase when the systolic blood pressure goes down, that is the heart compensating for low BP. In your case, it may or may not be an indication that your body is finding a systolic BP of 100 to be on the low side. I would consider a systolic BP of 100 to be low for someone on BP medications; there are a few medical conditions that warrant a lower BP but for garden-variety essential hypertension, I’m not aware of any randomized studies that have demonstrated better outcomes at such a lower SBP.
As you get established with your new doctor, you may want to discuss what your goal BP should be, and the likely benefits/risks of continuing on your current regimen. Good luck!
Don Y. says
Dear Dr. Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH:
Thank you so much for your highly informative article on hypertension for seniors–the best one that I have read. Presently, my wife, age 78, weight 98 lbs., height 4′ 11″, has been on a 4 m Atacand (brand name) per day for close to ten years now. Healthwise, I was concerned about its side effects on her. Pricewise, it is a very, very costly drug and our plan now requires her to pay a newly required deductible of $350 before reaching a new copay that has also become more expensive as well. She does not smoke or drink. Her family doctor has suggested that she switches to a generic brand Atacand but she prefers not to risk with its poorer bioavailability. Is such a preference valid? Are there any benefits in a generic that would outweigh its bioavailability constraint? Is there any alternative brand name drug that would offer her a good transition? Thank you kindly again for sharing the above highly informative, useful, and rare article regarding hypertension for seniors. I’d look forward to your reply with great appreciation–if I may.
Sincerely,
Don Y.
Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH says
I’m glad you found the article helpful.
Your question would probably be better addressed to a pharmacist or pharmacologist. I hadn’t attempted you describe, but it seems to me fairly low risk to try the switch. You will find out fairly quickly whether it works as well for her BP or not, and even if it’s slightly less effective, her provider could increase the dose a bit.
For most garden-variety hypertension, research suggests that which BP medication to use is less important than reaching a certain goal lower BP. So we usually try to find a medication that is affordable and has minimal side-effects. Hope this helps!
writtendeath says
Hello Dr. Kernisan, I’m glad I found this website, I’ve got a couple of questions, I would be very grateful for your input.
I just turned 45, a few weeks before that I suffered from a constant bad headache for a few days, I have one of those digital BP readers and it was 150/96, was quite shocked since my BP was very low 110/58 but I last took more than a year ago. My blood pressure was so low that I was denied donating blood several times when my mum had an accident.
Next day I went to a doctor, my reading was 145/94, he ordered a blood test, renal functions and other things and cholesterol level; he put me on a mild ACE inhibitor-10mg. He told me I have essential hypertension and didn’t advise any dietary/lifestyle changes except for lower sodium intake. I’m fit, workout every other day and I’m vegetarian for more than 20 years.
The tests came back all normal except for the cholesterol which is at 245- which is considered high risk according to the lab. The doctor gave me crestor medicine to combat the cholesterol and an additional aspirin 100 mg- I’m guessing as a blood thinner.
My questions are (which the doctor dodged):
Can we predict when was the hypertension triggered based on the cholesterol level test, in other words how long did I have it, when I asked him he dodged and said I might have always had high cholesterol, even though I only consume no fat dairy and rarely if ever eggs. I’m trying to establish a time frame of certain events.
It’s been almost 3 weeks since my diagnosis, my BP fluctuates badly from 125/75 early mornings to as high as 140/90 midday, my average would be around 130/85. Is that normal? and what are my chances of developing drug-resistance on the long run that’d require more/different medications.
Regarding the aspirin, the doctor said that it’s likely I’ll have to take it indefinitely. Wouldn’t that put me at a ver high risk of brain haemorrhage?
With medication, what is my risk of developing complications(blindness, cardiovascular etc) and death from stroke/heart attack. I’m asking for euthanasia preparations and at what age?
Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH says
I can’t answer anyone’s health questions in detail over the Internet, but I can provide a few comments in response to your questions and concerns.
It is indeed normal for BP to fluctuate throughout the day; the body’s control of blood pressure is a very dynamic process and so it can fairly quickly go up or down. We generally recommend that people check their home BP at about the same time every day; you may want to ask your doctor what time he or she would recommend for you.
I address aspirin and other methods of cardiovascular risk reduction in this article:
How to Address Cardiovascular Risk Factors for Better Brain Health: 12 Risks to Know & 5 Things to Do
At age 45, there is still lots of time for lifestyle changes and other health management efforts to make a big difference in your outcomes. I believe the article above links to a cardiovascular risk calculator online; you could use that or something similar to get a ballpark estimate of your CV risk. Your doctor can also advise you. Good luck!
writtendeath says
Thank you so much.