Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
High Blood Pressure Screening for All, Says Panel of Preventive Medicine Experts
Source: Newsweek
High Blood Pressure Screening for All, Says Panel of Preventive Medicine Experts
BY JESSICA FIRGER 10/13/15 AT 9:41 AM
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force—an independent panel of volunteer physicians that makes recommendations for preventive medicine—released updated guidelines for screening high blood pressure in adults. The task force issued a letter grade of A for screening every American age 18 and older for hypertension, suggesting there is a “high certainty that the net benefit is substantial.”
The task force's final recommendations, based on more than 9,309 abstracts and 1,171 full-text articles, were published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine and also posted on the task force's website. In the new guidelines, the panel recommends annual screening for people with an increased risk for high blood pressure, such as African-Americans and those who are obese or overweight. Less frequent screenings—once every three to five years—are recommended for healthy individuals aged 18 to 39 with normal blood pressure.
The panel last updated high blood pressure screening guidelines in 2007. Though the guidelines to screen everyone for high blood pressure over age 18 haven’t changed, the task force has added one new provision in its updated guidelines, recommending physicians confirm a high blood pressure diagnosis with follow-up measurements before prescribing blood pressure medication or other medical interventions to a patient.
In particular, the task force recommends physicians gather follow-up measurements using an ambulatory blood pressure monitor, which is a cuff attached to a small, portable machine that records blood pressure for 12 to 48 hours. Physicians can also confirm a diagnosis of high blood pressure by having patients use a blood pressure monitor at home.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
BY JESSICA FIRGER 10/13/15 AT 9:41 AM
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force—an independent panel of volunteer physicians that makes recommendations for preventive medicine—released updated guidelines for screening high blood pressure in adults. The task force issued a letter grade of A for screening every American age 18 and older for hypertension, suggesting there is a “high certainty that the net benefit is substantial.”
The task force's final recommendations, based on more than 9,309 abstracts and 1,171 full-text articles, were published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine and also posted on the task force's website. In the new guidelines, the panel recommends annual screening for people with an increased risk for high blood pressure, such as African-Americans and those who are obese or overweight. Less frequent screenings—once every three to five years—are recommended for healthy individuals aged 18 to 39 with normal blood pressure.
The panel last updated high blood pressure screening guidelines in 2007. Though the guidelines to screen everyone for high blood pressure over age 18 haven’t changed, the task force has added one new provision in its updated guidelines, recommending physicians confirm a high blood pressure diagnosis with follow-up measurements before prescribing blood pressure medication or other medical interventions to a patient.
In particular, the task force recommends physicians gather follow-up measurements using an ambulatory blood pressure monitor, which is a cuff attached to a small, portable machine that records blood pressure for 12 to 48 hours. Physicians can also confirm a diagnosis of high blood pressure by having patients use a blood pressure monitor at home.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://www.newsweek.com/high-blood-pressure-screening-all-says-panel-preventive-medicine-experts-382626
