Seniors over 78 years old who have hidden high blood pressure are significantly at risk of falling. The results of a new study indicate that these individuals are 70% more likely to fall compared to seniors whose blood pressure is accurately diagnosed.
What is Hidden High Blood Pressure?
Hidden high blood pressure refers to a condition where a person's blood pressure appears normal in a doctor's office but is consistently high at home. This condition can cause dizziness or fainting due to blood pressure fluctuations, increasing the risk of falling.
Researchers believe that measuring blood pressure at home can be an effective method for identifying this type of blood pressure and preventing falls in the elderly. These findings are based on data from over 750 elderly participants in a long-term study on the risk of heart diseases.
Comparison with White Coat Hypertension
In this study, the rate of falls in individuals with hidden high blood pressure was compared with patients having white coat hypertension. In the "white coat" hypertension condition, blood pressure readings are high in the doctor's office but lower when measured at home. Among the participants, 17% had white coat hypertension, 15% had hidden high blood pressure, and 33% had normal blood pressure.
According to researchers, multiple blood pressure measurements were taken at home and in the doctor's office for each individual. After about a year, nearly one in four (23%) had experienced at least one fall. Individuals with hidden high blood pressure fell 70% more often, while the risk of falling in those with white coat hypertension was 39% lower.
These findings clearly indicate that paying attention to blood pressure at home can provide valuable health information for the elderly. Moreover, as previous research has shown, this method can be beneficial for most individuals in the community.
The results of this research were presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) meeting recently held in Arlington, Virginia. It is important to note that findings reported at medical conferences should be considered preliminary until published in reputable scientific journals.
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