Medication
Initiation of medication is based on the level of hypertension
and the number of risk factors that are present along with
any evidence of damage to organs, such as the heart or
kidneys. Consult the European (Mancia et al, 2013) or
local treatment guidelines for further information on this
area if needed.
However, the recommendations for treatment of older
people differ from those for the younger age group. In
those over the age of 80 it is recommended that medication
should be started if the systolic blood pressure is
>160 mmHg with a recommended reduction in blood
pressure to 140–150 mmHg (Mancia et al, 2013). In
those who are under the age of 80, treatment may be
considered when the systolic readings are >140 mmHg
aiming for a blood pressure reduction to