Abstract
Hypertension, defined as a systolic pressure of 160 mmHg or more, a diastolic pressure of 95 mmHg or more, or both, is encountered in approximately 50% of all people over the age of 65 years. In most population groups, apart from some primitive cultures, systolic pressure increases with age in a linear fashion until the eighth decade. This is primarily related to the loss of elasticity of the major arteries. Diastolic pressure also increases with age until the seventh decade, at which stage it tends to level off.
“Primum non nocere”
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
Further Reading
Amery A, Birkenhager W, Bulpitt C et al. (1985) Mortality and morbidity results from the European Working Party on High Blood Pressure in the Elderly trial. Lancet 1:1349–1354
Editorial (1986) The risks of antihypertensive therapy. Lancet II:1075–1076
Kannel WB (1986) Prevalence, incidence and hazards of hypertension in the elderly. Am Heart J 112:1362–1363
Kannel WB, Dawbe TR, McGee DL (1980) Perspectives on systolic hypertension: the Framingham study. Circulation 61:1179–1182
Petrie JC, O’Brien ET, Little WA, DeSwiet M (1986) Recommendations on blood pressure measurement. Br Med J 293:611–615
Pickering G (1968) High blood pressure, 2nd edn. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1989 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Davies, A.B. (1989). Hypertension. In: Geriatric Medicine. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1646-2_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1646-2_8
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-1648-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-1646-2
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive