Elevated BP may lead to stroke: Study

Researchers found that having so-called pre-hypertension was linked to a 66 per cent increased risk of stroke.

People with blood pressure that is elevated but not enough to be considered “high” are still at an increased risk for strokes, according to a new analysis of past studies.

Researchers found that having so-called pre-hypertension was linked to a 66 per cent increased risk of stroke. “There has been disagreement in the community in general,” Dr Joshua Willey, a neurologist at Columbia University in New York, said.

“Are these people at risk for stroke?” Blood pressure is measured using two numbers. The first, known as the systolic or top number, is a measure of the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats.

The second, known as the diastolic or bottom number, is the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats. Normal blood pressure is a systolic reading of less than 120 millimeters of mercury and a diastolic reading of less than 80 mm Hg.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is defined as a reading of 140/90 mm Hg or above. Blood pressure readings between the normal and high marks are considered pre-hypertension.

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