Doctor talks about effective methods to lower blood pressure (WISH) — More than 100 million Americans live with high blood pressure, yet nearly 40% remain unaware of their condition. This silent issue can lead to serious health complications, including heart attacks and strokes. Dr. Jan elle Gordon, a WISH-TV medical expert, on Monday emphasized the critical importance of knowing individual blood pressure numbers to mitigate these risks. Current medical guidelines recommend a target systolic blood pressure below 120 and a diastolic blood pressure below 80. These updated recommendations underscore the need for people to monitor their readings closely. Gordon said that, depending on a person’s health conditions, some people may need their blood pressure to be even lower than others. She noted that updated guidelines from last year define a healthy systolic range between 90 and less than 120 and a diastolic range between 40 and less than 80. High blood pressure is linked to a range of severe health problems. “It can,” Gordon said, “lead to increased risk for heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, as well as liver disease.” A recent study indicated that aerobic or combined exercise should be part of a treatment plan for people with high blood pressure. Gordon said aerobic exercise includes brisk walking, cycling and running. Incorporating resistance training, either with body weight or actual weights and recreational sports such as basketball can also help keep blood pressure within a goal range. This story, created from an interview aired on WISH-TV, was formatted for WISHTV.com using AI-assisted tools. Our editorial team reviews and edits all content published to ensure it meets our journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness. ...read more read less