Age-Related Hypertension — Part 1
CALee Acupuncture Age-Related Hypertension — Part 1 When blood pressure returns to normal, has the person truly become healthy? Approximately 70% of individuals over the age of 65 are diagnosed with hypertension . Blood pressure is classified as hypertensive when systolic pressure exceeds 140 mmHg or diastolic pressure exceeds 90 mmHg. In older adults, a specific pattern known as isolated systolic hypertension is especially common—where only the systolic value is elevated. This pattern is closely associated with structural changes in blood vessels that occur with aging (Franklin et al., 2001). Why Does Aging Raise Blood Pressure? As aging progresses, the composition of the arterial wall changes. Elastin decreases, and collagen increases. As a result, the elasticity of blood vessels declines. Even when the heart pumps with the same force, the pressure is no longer absorbed effectively—it is transmitted directly through the arterial system. This phenomenon is known as arterial sti...