Hypertension Treatments May Not Be Appropriate for Elderly Patients.

Hypertension definitions and risk factor guidelines used to determine treatment are no longer appropriate for a growing number of older individuals with the condition, said Dr. Reuven Zimlichman of Tel Aviv University. Addressing the 2013 International Conference on Prehypertension and Cariometabolic Syndrome, he noted more patients are developing isolated systolic hypertension (caused by arterial stiffening) rather than classic diastolic hypertension (caused by humoral changes and excessive vasoconstrictive factors) according to heartwire. Researchers must find a different medication that will improve or stabilize arterial elasticity, he added.