On November 13, 2017, new ACC/AHA/APhA guidelines for hypertension (HTN) prevention and treatment were released.
Let’s review 2014 JNC8/AHA blood pressure stages and treatment algorithm:
The new 2017 guidelines now set the normal blood pressure (BP) less than 120/80.
- For initiation of therapy, first line medications are still TZD diuretics, CCBs, ACEIs and ARBs.
- Single drug therapy is reasonable for stage 1 HTN and and BP goal <130/80 with dosage titration and sequential addition of other agents to achieve BP goal.
- For stage 2 HTN and an average BP > 20/10 mm Hg above the target, 2 first-line agents of different classes is recommended
Click here to view the 2017 ACC/AHA Guideline for Hypertension or download the full PDF from the American Heart Association Journals website.
With these new guidelines, a lot of people fall into elevated blood pressure and stage 1 hypertension categories. But with elevated blood pressure, lifestyle changes is the main treatment at this stage with no medications needed.
Meds Review 101 