Blood pressure and age question

[Mike6567]

I seem to remember, when I was a lot younger, at my medical the doctor mentioning some sort of relationship of age with blood pressure. I think he mentioned the idea of diastolic blood pressure plus age giving systolic pressure. ie age say 45 would expect something like 115/70 or maybe 120/ 75.
Do I remember correctly? (I haven't been able to find anything about this on the web)

[Jean-Lill]

I am married to a medic who says you are correct about age affecting blood pressure. However, anything up to 140/90 is considered ok, the healthier one is then the level will be lower. The levels you mention would be excellent but it is more likely someone in their 20's or 30's would have those levels.

I am 58 and mine is 138/87 which is very ok for my age apparently, hope that helps.

[Mike6567]

I may not have explained this very well.
A blood pressure of 138/87 would give an age of 138-87=51
Or for an age of 58 - blood pressure of say 138/80 or 145/87
Does this make sense?

[Jean-Lill]

Sorry Mike you do not make sense at all. The figure above measures the high blood pressure and the figure below measures the low blood pressure.

You cannot calculate what the correct blood pressure should be if you deduct the low pressure from the high pressure reading and if the resulting figure happens to be the person's age then that is the correct blood pressure for that person.

This is not how it works at all, it is quite possible for a 45 year old to have exactly the same blood pressure (high and low) as a 65 year old has. It depends on many factors, age is certainly one. My other half is a 5 years younger than me but has both high/low levels higher than mine.

Hope that makes some sense.

[gingernut]

It was an old fashioned rule- Systolic pressure allowed was 120+(your age).

It's a dangerous rule, which resulted in 50 year old people dropping down of strokes and heart attacks. It shouldn't be followed now.

Have a look at post#16 http://www.pprune.org/medical-health...on-thread.html

[Mike6567]

Thanks for the feedback gingernut.
Yes. It was mentioned when I had my pressure done in the early eighties by quite an old doctor. It has obviously proved to be "duff gen".

[gingernut]

Probably credible at the time, and no reflection on your doc, but the great thing about this job, advice (and our interventions) change constantly, the more knowledge we gain.

Can be a bit of a pain keeping updated though

[Loose rivets]

I've always had low BP, and never had symptoms like graying out when getting up suddenly. But is this necessarily good?

[gingernut]

I've always had low BP, and never had symptoms like graying out when getting up suddenly. But is this necessarily good?

Yep-enjoy your longevity

[gingernut]

It's spot on for a lad of your age.

But shouldn't you be out chasing girls or getting an ASBO instead of checking your blood pressure?

[VikingJo]

Hi guys

Do you know if aero-medical examiners take your age into account when deciding if your blood pressure is within limits for class 1 medical?

Thanks

VikingJo

[C172 Hawk XP]

age not really relevant . . . . .

Do you know if aero-medical examiners take your age into account when deciding if your blood pressure is within limits for class 1 medical?

The answer to that is : "Yes, of course we do !" But, at the age of 29 why are you even asking ? Furthermore, there is actually much less variation with age allowed than you might think. Gone are the days when normal BP was simply assumed to continue rising thoughout old age.

If the BP is well under 160/90 then there will be no further mention of it. If either of those figures are exceeded, then other things will more than likely be discussed, of which AGE is just one. Others would be WEIGHT, DIET, FITNESS (incl exercise), SALT intake, SMOKING, and, of course, any anti-hypertensive medication.

[A2QFI]

I had heard the figure of one's age + 100 and I certainly wouldn't find that at all satisfactory. The last time mine was taken, by my GP, it was 112/77 and I am 69 so reckoned I was doing OK, even if a bit overweight.

[driftdown]

At my last medical BP was 150/100, rather disappointing. Medication started and lifestyle changes implemented. Whilst I dislike taking medication the practicality of doing so to minimise the risk of heart attack or stroke was a no brainer.

At the time I was told the current medical thinking was for patients to be medicated to a target 120 / 80 (-ish) allowing this to rise, 130 - ish I seem to be recall being mentioned, as age increases.

I am amazed of the attitude among many of my non-aviation friends who have no idea of their BP or Cholesterol level, and actually have no intention of finding out