Upper systolic blood pressure should sit around 120 to 130 mm Hg, with an ideal target under 120 mm Hg. This guidance comes from a cardiologist affiliated with the Russian Gerontological Research and Clinical Center, part of the Russian National Research Medical University. The emphasis remains on keeping pressure within a normal range to reduce health risks.
Current medical consensus holds that normal systolic pressure commonly falls in the 120 to 130 mm Hg range, yet many patients present readings around 130 to 140 mm Hg. In practice, clinicians may be comfortable with readings at the higher end of this range. Importantly, pushing pressure down to 120 mm Hg or lower has been associated with a meaningful decrease in overall mortality risk, according to the 2015 SPRINT trial findings.
Estimates vary, but data suggest that roughly 30 to 50 percent of people with hypertension who are on medication do not reach optimal blood pressure targets.
Managing hypertension often requires a combination of therapies. A patient may need at least two medications, though many cases involve four to five drugs. That can be a real challenge for adherence, especially when multiple active ingredients are involved. Preference is given to regimens that minimize dosing frequency, including treatments that can be taken with a single daily dose.
A concept linked to hypertension management has been described as a preventive vaccination approach, where a single administration could potentially reduce blood pressure for an extended period, such as six months.