New diagnostic guide to detect cases of hypertension

This controversy has its origin in the publication made by the main organizations that govern cardiology in North America and a large part of the globe.

The American College of Cardiology, together with the American Heart Association, brings together the majority of cardiologists and physicians in the United States. UU They are dedicated to providing recommendations regarding prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

The guidelines emanating from these prestigious health organizations are taken into account throughout the world, and are almost unanimously welcomed by the appendix organizations, or followers of these in America, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and even in Europe.

On the other hand, the European Society of Cardiology and the European Society of Arterial Hypertension are also organizations with the same objective of work, and with a target of similar public, being between both organizations the main leaders of cardiovascular diseases in the West. In most heart diseases, both North American and European organisms agree on their points of view. On a few occasions these differ.

In the particular case of hypertension is where their approaches and recommendations have often deferred.

In this article we will try to illustrate to our readers, patients, doctors or the general public, what are the new diagnostic aspects of this frequent condition called arterial hypertension, that due to its importance as a risk factor for fatal cardiovascular disease and for high prevalence of it in the world population, and in the Dominican population in particular, we consider it of great interest to share with the community in general, especially following the extensive discussions that have been subject these guidelines or recommendations in the international medical community and local, in many of which we have participated, be it as actors, be it as witnesses.

Until November 2017 there was a universal consensus on the top figures to talk about normal blood pressure and high blood pressure.

Everyone understood that blood pressure levels below 140/90 mm Hg were normal or high normal values; Higher levels were considered high, either in stage I or stage II disease.

Controversies have arisen as a result of these new guidelines have proposed that from blood pressure levels higher than 130/80 mm Hg, we should consider people as hypertensive, and initiate the treatment of this, although such treatment, at start, it should not necessarily be with medications. Although there have been voices that differ from this new classification, in the particular case of the Dominican patient, it would be of great help for them to emphasize that from 130/80 mm of Hg the risk of complications derived from this clinical pathology increases, and, therefore, we should start treatment, even if it is in the non-pharmacological format.