Study: ‘Ideal’ Blood Pressure Level May Be Too Low For Diabetics

Gainesville, FL, United States (AHN) – For people with diabetes and heart disease, lowering their blood pressure may not be the ideal route to good health, according to a recent study.

University of Florida researchers said these patients risk heart attack, stroke and even death if they have blood pressure levels too high or low. Typically, having a systolic blood pressure of 120 is ideal, but not for people with diabetes and coronary disease.

These patients should shoot for levels between 130 and 140, University of Florida researcher Rhonda Cooper-DeHoff said in a statement released at the American College of Cardiology’s 59th annual scientific session in Atlanta, Ga.

She said the systolic blood pressure level considered healthy for most people may actually put diabetes and coronary disease patients at greater risk.

Cooper-DeHoff said having systolic pressure above 140 was still dangerous to these patients, but they get more benefit aiming for levels between 130 and 140 than they do going down to 120.

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