BloodPressureGuidelinesRevampedForthefirsttimeindecades,expertshaveraisedthethresholdforwhatisconsidereddangerouslyhighbloodpressureforpeopleaged60andover.Asaresult,patientsmaybeprescribedfewerdrugstotreathypertension.Highbloodpressure,orhypertension,isthemostcommonconditionseeninprimarycareandleadstoheartattacks,kidneyfailure,anddeathifnotdetectedearlyandtreatedappropriately.Agovernment-appointedpanelthatmadetherecommendationsstressedthattheyarenotchangingthedefinitionofhighbloodpressure,whichcurrentlyis140over90butthatforadultsaged60andolder,theyarerecommendingahighertreatmentthreshold,prescribingmedicineonlywhenbloodpressurelevelsreach150over90orhigher.Inolderpeopletoomuchhighbloodpressuremedicationcancausefaintingandfalls,thepanelsaid.Furthermore,medicationtotreathighbloodpressurecouldreactnegativelywithothermedications.Foryoungerpatients,treatmentrecommendationsremainunchanged."Thisreporttakesarigorous,evidence-basedapproachtorecommendtreatmentthresholds,goals,andmedicationsinthemanagementofhypertensioninadults,”thestudysays.AccordingtoPaulJames,professorandheadoffamilymedicineatHYPERLINK"http://now.uiowa.edu/2013/12/new-hypertension-guidelines-could-mean-fewer-medications-some"\t"_blank"UniversityofIowaHospitalsandClinicsandco-chairofthepanelmakingtherecommendations,pastguidelinesfromthelastseveraldecades“havebeenbasedonconsensusbyexperts.”“These[recommendations]werebasedonscientificevidencefromrandomizedcontrolledtrials,”hesaid.“Expertopinionwasusedonlyintheabsenceofscientificevidence.”ThepanelreviewednumerouspaststudiesfromJanuary1,1966toDecember31,2009,aswellasmajor,eligiblestudiesthattookplacebetweenDecember2009andAugust2013.Thereviewfocusedonadultsage18andolderwithhypertensionandincludedstudiesinvolvingdiabetes,coronaryarterydisease,peripheralarterydisease,heartfailure,previousstroke,chronickidneydisease,proteinuria,olderadults,menandwomen,racialandethnicgroups,andsmokers.Panelistsalsolookedatmethodsofcontrollinghighbloodpressure,includingwhatmedicati