American Kidney Fund Supports New Government Blood Pressure Guidelines

American Kidney Fund
Monday, 19 May 2003

The American Kidney Fund (AKF) announced its support for the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's new recommendation that healthy blood pressure readings be lowered. Until now, blood pressure of 120 over 80 was considered optimal and normal blood pressure was up to 130 over 85. Patients with readings above 140 over 90 have high blood pressure. Previously, a blood pressure reading between 130 over 85 and 140 over 90 was termed "borderline". Under the government's revised standard, "borderline" blood pressure levels are termed "prehypertensive". The new hypertension (high blood pressure) category is meant to send a message that action needs to be taken at the "prehypertensive" stage to avoid high blood pressure and its many complications such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), kidney failure, stroke, heart attack, heart failure, dementia and blindness.

AKF Trustee and Georgetown University Clinical Professor of Medicine Robert J. Rubin, M.D., said, "Too many Americans are unaware of their high blood pressure, and among those who are aware of it, too few are adequately treated. All Americans should know their blood pressure and if their pressure exceeds these new guidelines, they should seek medical help."

Diabetes and hypertension are the two main causes of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. An estimated 20 million Americans have chronic kidney disease, and an additional 20 million have CKD and do not know it. About 400,000 Americans have kidney failure. There is no cure for kidney failure and the only treatments are kidney dialysis and kidney transplantation.

For more information, or to contact American Kidney Fund, see their website at: www.akfinc.org