Healthy Living
What New Blood Pressure Guidelines Mean for Your Health
04 February 2026
The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) recently updated their High Blood Pressure Guideline. These updates highlight the strong connection between blood pressure, heart health, and brain health.
High blood pressure has been called the “silent killer” because it often has no symptoms yet can lead to serious health problems over time. Understanding your numbers and knowing what to do about them helps you stay healthy for years to come.
High blood pressure and your brain
While the risk of stroke from having high blood pressure has been well established for decades, there is strong proof that high blood pressure raises the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. If you have high blood pressure today, lowering it may help protect your brain health in the future.
“It has long been known that high blood pressure affects the heart and can lead to heart attacks and congestive heart failure. What we understand more clearly now is how much it also affects the brain,” says Dr. Ruben Halperin, Medical Director at Providence Health Plan. “Keeping blood pressure in a healthy range is one of the most important ways to protect memory and thinking as you age.”
Heart conditions linked to high blood pressure
High blood pressure is the leading risk factor for many serious heart and brain conditions, including:
Stroke
Coronary artery disease leading to heart attacks
Congestive heart failure
Atrial fibrillation (AFib)
It's important to note that high blood pressure - or hypertension - is a modifiable risk factor, which means you can change the risk by lowering your blood pressure.
“When blood pressure stays high, it puts extra stress on your heart and blood vessels,” Dr. Halperin explains. “Lowering it even a little can reduce your risk of stroke and other heart conditions.”
Blood pressure and pregnancy
High blood pressure can develop during or after pregnancy. It can also be part of a dangerous condition called preeclampsia.
“Pregnancy changes the body in many ways, and blood pressure is one of them,” says Dr. Halperin. “If you're pregnant, talk with your health care professional about the safest ways to monitor and manage blood pressure.”
Checking blood pressure before, during, and after pregnancy helps you and your health care team stay on top of your health.
Know your numbers
Normal blood pressure is:
Systolic pressure (top number) less than 120
Diastolic pressure (bottom number) less than 80
If your numbers are higher, talk with your healthcare professional about ways to lower them. If your systolic pressure is higher than 180 and/or your diastolic pressure is higher than 120, it may be life-threatening.
Anyone can develop high blood pressure
High blood pressure can affect people of all ages. Have your blood pressure checked regularly and know your numbers.
Adopting healthy dietary and exercise habits and improving sleep can make a meaningful difference, but you may also need medication.
“There's no one-size-fits-all approach,” Dr. Halperin says. “Some people manage blood pressure with lifestyle changes alone. Others need medication and lifestyle changes. What matters is making a plan that keeps you safe and healthy and that you can stick with.”
Also talk with your health care professional about other conditions that can affect blood pressure, including being overweight, sleep apnea, diabetes, and thyroid issues.
Understanding the updated guideline is the first step. Checking your blood pressure regularly and talking with your health care team about what your numbers mean can make a lasting difference in your heart and brain health.
“Small steps matter,” Dr. Halperin says. “You don't need to change everything at once. Start with one thing you can do today and build on that. Over time, the choices you make will add up to keep you healthier.”
