HYPERTENSION REDEFINED

LOS ANGELES: High blood pressure was redefined on Monday by the American Heart Association, which said the disease should be treated sooner when it reaches 130/80 mm Hg, not the previous 140/90. Doctors now recognise complications “can occur at those lower numbers”, said the updated guidelines on blood pressure detection. It does not mean one needs medication, but “a yellow light you need to be lowering your blood pressure, mainly with non-drug approaches,” its lead author, Paul Whelton, said. – AFP