Hello Everybody;
I have been taking my 75 years old mother's Blood pressure and it has been 165/90. Do I have to take her to a doctor for that. Or is that normal
Thank you

Its a tough call. 140/90 and above is considered hypertension, so at 165/90, she has what is called "first stage hypertension".

There is the potential for side effects from medication, on the other hand uncontrolled high blood pressure could increase her chances for stroke or kidney problems, as well as Alzheimers.

Has she had high blood pressure before now or not? What is her overall health and activity level? Does she smoke? Is she currently taking any other medication, or even over the counter pain meds, decongestants or sleep aids that might raise her blood pressure? Does she drink a lot of caffenated drinks? What about her family history - have members of her family had hypertension, stroke, heart attack, kidney problems, senior dementia, etc?

How you answer the above questions might provide you with guidance on whether you should take her to the doctor.

If her history and general health is good, no meds or tobacco raising bp and so on, you might first try some lifestyle changes if she is willing. Cut way back on salt in food. If she is overweight, diet and exercise to lose the extra pounds can lower bp. Keep taking her blood pressure. If the lifestyle changes don't make a difference, then re-evaluate based on how you answered the questions I asked.

I am not a doctor, or a member of the medical community. I can't tell you whether you should take her to the doctor or not. Hopefully though, I have offered some things for you to consider to help you make a more informed decision.

I'd take her to the Dr. Best to have it checked.

Going to the doctor with those numbers just about guarantees the doctor will prescribe medication(s), unless you have a very progressive doctor, willing to try lifestyle changes first (barring any medical complications).

At 75, one's risk vs. benefit equation is different from one who is 45.

mgraylorn, that's true if it's essential hypertension. What if it's caused by some other primary condition, such as kidney problems or other cardiovascular issues.

If otherwise in good health, 75 isn't that old today. I would want to get a Dr.'s opinion. Even if they prescribe BP meds, there's no requirement you take them.

Another way to think about it... at what age do you thing someone with those readings should seek medical advice?

Not trying to be inflammatory - just exchanging opinions...

No, no offense taken, and I was not trying to imply that old people shouldn't worry about high blood pressure. I know some very active people well up into their 70s.

Tick Tock, you bring up a good point, the poster's mother should probably be checked for some underlying problem that needs medical tests to confirm.

If her health is good and there is no underlying problem, then a few months trying lifestyle changes won't hurt her. And it really could be something as simple as stopping smoking (if someone who has never smoked can call quitting "simple"), stop taking ibupropin, cutting salt, etc. At 75 she could even still be taking HRT, which could cause the bp rise.

I was diagnosed with hypertension at 46. Going off the birth control pill didn't change it. I had elderly relatives and parents who had high blood pressure, obesity, strokes, heart attacks and Alzheimer's disease. My age, coupled with the family history made me want to tackle my hypertension pretty agressively. Doing so put me through the wringer trying to find meds that worked, and I think if I'd stayed on beta blockers any longer than I did, it would have killed me. My blood pressure is under good control now, but about a year and a half was pretty bad from medication side effects. I do have to be a bit careful now, because indiscressions in food, drink or lack of sleep can cause some side effects with the drugs I'm taking.

If I were 75 and pretty active, I had no family history of senior dementia, stroke or heart problems, and only now had blood pressure numbers like the original poster's mother has, I'd have to think long and hard about whether the potential complications of blood pressure medications was more or less risky than doing nothing except monitoring my blood pressure at the moment. That's all I was trying to convey.

Conversely, if the poster's mother has serious health problems already that impare her ability to function to a major extent, and these health problems can't be corrected to improve her quality of life, is adding the complications of blood pressure medications going to help her in any way? Particularly if her blood pressure doesn't go up any more than what was given.

We don't have anything to go on to make recommendations except age and one blood pressure number. That isn't enough. That's why I asked the poster all those questions. How she or he answers those questions hopefully will help guide the poster to a decision on what to do.

Exchanging opinions is good. Hopefully it brings clarity.

I say DON'T.
I think more problems will accrue to a 75 year old put on BP reducing mediations than any possible benefits.

If she has diabetes or tends to have edema anywhere (like ankles or belly) then MAYBE a diuretic. If she has any chest pain, then maybe beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers.

But absent either of these symptoms, or kidney disease, I'd say let her be. Treating BP for the sake of BP seems silly at this point...an aspirin a day would be FAR more beneficial.