My old doctor had strongly pressured me to start blood pressure medication (144 systolic). Doing so would have required repeated doctor visits and monitoring. He pooh-poohed my suggestions that maybe I could try things like losing weight, first. He said that as you age, blood pressure tends to go up, and stay up. I was 65, then. I declined his advise about blood pressure meds , yet took him seriously. I got a blood pressure monitor and started taking 3 readings, every week. I started watching things like caffeine and sodium more, went mostly vegetarian, shed over 15 pounds, starting taking more natural things that lower blood pressure, like garlic. My blood pressure went progressively down for 7 years in a row, now age 72, and systolic under 120. The blood pressure med that my doctor had wanted, soon had a recall for a carcinogen contamination. I had seen reviews from people who had used it, saying they felt 20 years younger when they stopped taking it, that it had caused fatigue and drowsiness (highly dangerous if you are driving highways). My personal advice is to take your doctor seriously, but not follow blindly, Try the natural approach, first, if it is not an actual emergency.

Good video, but I think there is an obsession with blood pressure these days. To me, being healthy is more important. Getting exercise and plenty of sleep. Having a good diet and less stress in your life. Trying to get your blood pressure down to 120/80 just causes anxiety and stress in your life.

I’m 87 & have 122/81 this morning!

I’m 74, male, and for years my BP was normal according to doctors. But over the past couple years when I’m at a doctor appointment it goes up pretty high, so my primary care doc had me take my BP at home 2-3 times a day and report it to him after two weeks. It was normal. Some offices are using those crappy wrist band cuffs to take BP and those are really inaccurate. I think the way medical staff takes BP readings is after you hurry to get there, sit in waiting for awhile, then rush into the exam room and start asking questions while the BP is being taken will of course give a high reading especially if a wrist cuff is used. I’ve had readings that if real, blood should be spurting out of every orifice! Those readings could lead to excessive prescriptions given for hypertension when they’re not necessary. I’ve refused to use any of those drugs because I don’t think based upon my testing I don’t have hypertension.

I've had issues with blood pressure for decades, and doctors just tell me what to take and let me go home. So, I keep searching for answers on my own, and now, for the first time in my life, at age 68, I finally understand... Thank you! 🙂

Nicely explained. Before 4 decades, was taught that normal blood pressure=age+100.Am 64,fit and fine, with B. P 130/80.

I'll be 70 in March. Was on BP meds for last 6 yrs. Went Carnivore 8 weeks ago, weaning myself off of them as I ate better. My BP is now LOWER, then it was when I was on the meds! I feel great! Full of energy, losing weight, excited about life, and can't wait to get back in the saddle and onto the trails in the spring! Thanks for your videos. Easy to understand and very encouraging. 👍

You explained everything so well. You're a good teacher.

I have to thank you for your information about reducing blood pressure. I took your advice regarding consuming beets and altered my diet slightly. About a six weeks ago, I started drinking Super Beets every day and reduced the amounts of carbs I was consuming. Low and behold, my blood pressure dropped to the safe levels that I do not need to take blood pressure med per my doctor's suggestion.

Doctor, it is three months since I started watching your videos. I brought down my BP from 90/140 to 80/120 by regular breathing exercise and brisk walking. Thank you so much for your advice.

This guy makes sense , as you age things do change

Last year seeing my cardiologist, he said that the blood pressure numbers standard had changed for seniors… going back to the 40-50 year old range. And next sentence he said I should increase my Irbesartan to 75 mg to reach the new standard. Now I’m thinking this might be a pharma thing?

May God Bless you doctor. After all the rubbish they wanted us to believe your words are the best symphony ever.

My husband blood pressure is very low. He used to say it was because he was fit, until he kept on fainting. He ended up in hospital, where they found out the very low bp was due to the eye drops for his chronic glaucoma.

Great video yet again. I tend to follow the AAFP (American Academy of Family Physicians) guidlines instead of the AHA due to AHA's history of "influence." AAFP uses the guidelines of 140/90. I am a 65yo Triathlete and don't believe I should have a BP of a 5 year old. Keep up the good work Dr.

I am certain that stress, large or small, IS the main cause of my systolic variations. I took low doses of BP meds for a year. Nothing really changed. Now am on supplements for stronger blood vessel health and waiting to see if they work to bring it down. Morning readings are usually 130's over 60's. I have a high strung personality, get agitated and feel things deeply, all I believe causal. I do meditations every morning before taking my bp. I eat well and usually do pilates 3 to 4 times a week. I need to increase exercise, I am aware. Loved this video, as it was a much better explanation to us non medical people than I have seen with other videos.

Thanks Dr Story. I’m 70, normal weight, exercise daily, and eat well, no junk. I do Art if Living meditation and breath practice daily (mostly 🤣). My systolic BP is affected by stress due to my living situation. I have found hibiscus tea, magnesium and a less than recommended dosage of GABA to be helpful.

One of my doctors say at age 65, anything 150/90 or below is good.

I have never heard any health care professional refer to a healthy bp being age related. If anything causing higher bp is the fact that no matter what you do, when you go into that health care office your bp increases from the stress of being there and what the numbers will be at that time. Sometimes I think that an increase in bp is not causation of some malady but only a correlation to what you are currently doing and the outcome of your life. My health care provider wants me to take daily at home bp but the mere sight of that machine makes me crazy. I'd rather change my lifestyle, diet and outlook on life and be relaxed than go crazy chasing bp #'s that may never happen.

I follow your tips of breathing exercise and brisk walk and now skyrocketed BP reduce to 130/70. Thank you for the tips

Doctor, Thank you for this teaching. I knew instinctively that my BP should not be compared to a 20 year old norm. But, the MD scared me about having a stroke.

Very good analysis, doctor ! Elderly people are sooo intimidated by doctors to push cardio medication😢

Wow, what a magnificent explanation! Thank you so very much! I myself had to lower my meds because my blood pressure was too low and I was very dizzy! Now I have discontinued all forms of sugars and still taking only one tab but looking to be able to discontinue the med all together. Again, thank you for such a great explanation!

Great explanation….never thought about pulse pressure.

Finally a common sense explanation.

I always like your videos they are very informative and better than most of the videos online because you help us live a healthier life!

Thank you. So clear and concise. One love from Jamaica 🇯🇲 ❤

Oh my, ty so much for explaining about Bp so clearly, & calmly. I feel so enlightened! 😃This is so helpful for me! All the best to you & yours! Tks again!

Never heard of you before this video. I have NEVER heard this information before. Thank you!

Thanks Doc! You explained everything so well.

Thank you for your indepth explanation on this topic.

Marvelous Explaination❤ Keep it up

Some aging is caused by many years of eating the wrong foods, too much food and bad habits like smoking, alcohol and doctorś meds. My blood pressure decreased when fasted for one day a week and even more when I fasted for 2 days a week. After all, why keep eating like a teen-ager when you get fully grown? The reason to eat alot every day is when you work like a lumberjack and try to make a lot of babies, otherwise eat the best and eat less.

Thank you for explaining this very clearly.

About two years ago my blood pressure was around 130/86. I started taking vitamin K2 MK7 and it lowered my blood pressure to around 100/65. By the way, I am a 62years old man, 5’ 10” and weigh approximately 155 lbs. I take NO prescription meds and only consume food-based supplements. My diet consist of a Mediterranean style foods and I exercise at least one hour daily. Vitamin K2 has improved my quality of life considerably in other areas also.

I am experimenting with wearing a "health watch" at nights. It tracks my sleeping patterns from logging movement. Am finding that if at all agitated and restless when I go to bed, the pattern of light and deep sleep is very disrupted, I can also find myself getting up every 2 hours to pee (Cortisol irritating the bladder, not amount but irritation causing me to get up.). When restless can improve things by playing Solitaire or have a hot drink. I do not focus on, therefore do not even notice that am restless because that would be negative reinforcement. But the watch shows a lovely regular pattern of repeating deep and light sleep when my mind is at peace, and it would be nice to repeat that - and this promotes getting peaceful sleep... The health watch can also measure pulse, blood pressure, body temperature and tissue glucose using LEDs that shine out of the back of the watch. At first I thought these a bit of a gimmick, but experience shows that they are useful. I am avoiding taking these measurements during the night, but at beginning and end I look at pulse and BP figures to see what I can vary. (I have a well-exercised dog, eat properly, eat my vegetables, and BP and pulse at my age 70 is normal range.) What is also useful is the Oxymeter. If I do not ventilate my flat well, then in the mornings the meter records 95% O2 saturation. If well ventilated then O2 is 98..99%. The advantage of the watch is that I do not know if am restless-sleeping, but afterwards the watch tells me, and that encourages positive changes. When walking the watch can count steps, provides a nice magnetic compass, and can do many other things too.

thank you DOC STOREY. you and Other DOCS like you helped me get off bp. meds. one experience I had last year. in med office, nurse took bp as usual at beginning of visit . GOOD NUMBERS . doc came in, said she needed to TAKE BP AGAIN, because "that can't be right" HER READING was high, AND so she prescribed BP MEDS. well, i started taking meds, and my blackout spells, dizziness, etc started. .stopped BP MEDS AFTER 6 mos . now. one year later,BP is NORMAL. 125/ 75 at my last visit. no meds, . My daily routine is beet juice, hibiscus tea, breath exercises. and better diet . AND i am not afraid to drive again. PS. born in 49. 😊 If that BP CUFF IS NOT ON PROPERLY, numbers are not accurate . 😮 or human error???

So what exactly is the ‘normal blood pressure’ for people as they get older? While I understand that 120/70 is acceptable for a 20 year old, doctors pursue that standard no matter what age you are. Years ago, the systolic ‘norm’ was 100+ your age, so someone who was 60 years old would be expected to have a systolic pressure of 160. What is the current, real acceptable norm, without the input from pharma companies???

So good that I watched twice back to back! Thank you, Dr. Story 👍🏽

Thanks again for sharing this video! I needed to hear this. I totally agree with what you're saying. You're so on point. God bless you!❤

Thank you for this very clear and convincing advice.

Thank you for this video! I appreciate it!

The Pharm companies want Doctors to prescribe meds, that's why they say your pressure is high when it's normal for age.

Brilliant video. I had heard earlier that the pulse is the difference between the systolic and the diastolic numbers but had forgotten. I had recently been to my doctor for a checkup and they found my blood pressure to be high (something I have heard for the last 20 years). I sort of realize I have "white coat syndrome", since I feel the pressure when my BP is checked in a doctors office, but am very healthy otherwise (walking 4 miles 4 to 7 days a week and having lost 30 pounds in the last 3 years with intermittent fasting and carb restriction) . I have started wearing a Garmin watch for the last 2 years which keeps track of my pulse. As soon as the doc said the BP was high, I pulled out my phone and showed them that my pulse rate just skyrocketed at the time the BP was taken. She said that pulse is not the same as BP, which is true, but based on your info, the pulse can give a picture of what's happening to your BP. If the pulse skyrockets, it's most likely that the systolic is going up due to stress, while the diastolic, which is unaffected by stress, stays the same. Thus a higher pulse as measured by the difference. I do experience these differences during my daily life. As an example my resting BP yesterday was 50 while my peak BP was 146. This also likely shows that my blood vessels are pliable enough to manage this kind of a variation (am guessing that stiffer vessels would result in a more even pulse rate). Thank you for the great video!

Exceptional video! I am a gerontological nursing instructor and have been looking for a good video explaining isolated systolic hypertension and the risk of falls in treating aggressively. You’ve included an excellent theoretical explanation plus the health education we should be promoting!

I Walk daily on hour long walk, resistant training, swimming 4/7 , 40 minutes laps, reduced carbs, alcohol only occasionally, matcha tea instead coffee. I can control blood glucose easily but my blood pressure is tricky sometimes. Early morning reading show mostly, systolic below 120, diastolic the 70s, heart rate around the 60s. But at night before bed readings are always high in a range from 130-120/85-95s but heart rate below 60. When i am upset with something Its really scary to see reading 180/110 but no physical symptoms. I even once called my health provider in the middle of night early morning hours. They recommend me to go sleep earlier before midnight that could help. I don't ever experienced any symptoms that bother me except feeling my heart beating. But i pay closely attention to it. Yes doctor, exercise, intermittent fasting, dieting are the formula to a healthy lifestyle. Am 71, exercise daily for hours as i retired and get plenty of time to keep myself busy working out and cooking healthy meals. I am working on going to bed earlier as iam a night owl. Until now i don't have any prescriptions needed and i hope to keep that way. Thank you for this very informative and educated video 💕👍+Subscribed

Wow this is so excellent!

I am 68, my normal BP is 100/69, been this way for many many years.

Brilliant...Thank you Doc

My BP numbers are improving since incorporating the good doctor’s advice. This is especially true regarding deep breathing which I do twice a day now. I’ve also added vitamin C, D, and magnesium. Finally, I drink 8 oz of beet juice daily.

Very inspiring. Thank you so much Doctor...

I take medication that, paired with my age and a little weight gain, have my BP elevated. When i sit 8-10 minutes and listen to say music or ither pleasant input, it drops into a normal range.

Thank you Doc, you're saving lives💕

Laws in the US recently have made giving doctors almost any kind of incentive illegal. Back in the day, drug companies sent doctors on exotic vacations and treated them to expensive dinners. No longer! But there are still a couple of loopholes. There’s a website (I apologize but I can’t remember it’s name) where you type in any doctors name and it tells you how much they earned in any particular year from drug companies. So, I typed in one of my doc’s names. That year, he’d been paid over $20K to speak at a conference. The government can’t really make that illegal because, drug companies have to have speakers from the medical profession. And it’s only fair that the speakers get paid. But BP medicines are the bread basket for drug companies

Very helpful. Thank you!

Thanks for this clear and very important information concerning the issues which the elderly stand on this ever ongoing war with blood pressure medication.The Drs .has a very sneaky but persistent approach to intimidate the elderly with their medical terms .and before you know realise you leaving the office with unnecessary medication that does more harm than good

Geeez, some of these comments! Ignore the haters Dr Story, they have nothing better to do! ❤

Hey Doc, Thanks for the great information

Thank you….

I agree when I do a solid 5 min deep breathing my SBP will drop 15 or more points, with very little change in DBP, it will but only by may 3 points. thanks for all your knowledge!

I would agree totally. However, my question is that as our garden hoses get less elastic with age, shouldn't we want to make sure the BP is actually even lower than what our young garden hoses used to handle? If so, this could explain the lowering of the guideline.

THANK YOU! So informative. BTW, when my BP goes down (using beets or garlic along with everything else), my heart rate goes up. Not sure what to think of that.

Thank you very much doctor.

Thanks for the information.

I went keto and exercise which brought my blood pressure down without drugs. It can still vary but generally below 130/80, the Christmas period did not help I'm afraid. I'm 74.

Thank you!

Can I do the deep breathing n take my blood pressure medication at the same time . thank you

At 3:10 you advise there will be links from other doctors who discuss what the BP should be with aging. But I cannot find them….?????

Eating right reasonable exercise ensures 120/80 blood pressure through life. Modern diet ensures high blood pressure.

I like the 4 second box but, I like the discipline that when you reach four you push it to 5 or 6. I think you analogy of a garden hose, might be better with a bladder or balloon. A garden hose has very little expansion, even with 60 psi water (non compressible) Better to use air and non reinforced plastic or rubber. with low pressure less than 10 psi. Iguana

Beet juice or beet powder supplementation alone reduces blood pressure...there are so many things we can do instead of taking prescription drugs.

This is a good approach, thanks for the video. Still, it would be good what your BP numbers guidelines are for people in their 50ies and 60ies. I had an extremely high blood pressure and taking meds was relevant and also felt stabilising to my body. But I feel 145 to 90/95 should be enough, I am going to be 60 next month. It certainly is diet and fitness and physical awareness, but some guidelines regarding numbers can be helpful as well.

When my bmi is below 25 my BP is 115/75 or lower, when my bmi is 26 or 27 my BP is 135/90. I’m 54.

Thank you for sharing.

❤you for that

Good video, so why doesn't the AMA and other medical regulators have a BP:Age Chart?....instead of just using a 120/80 number to be applied across the board?

My hubby was diagnosed with blockages in heart. No surgery given, but started him on 3 different meds to strengthen heart, but it also lowers blood pressure. The thing is...he has never had high blood pressure. Always around 120 over 80. He has had 3 instances were I had to take him to emerg. I suggest taking him off a couple of the meds, but they insist its best for his heart. Him being lethargic, unbalanced, and with extreme low bp, I think is just as bad for him.

Sorry to say but here in the UK our doctors aren't interested in lowering blood pressure naturally. As soon as they know you have high blood pressure its straight out with medication, then once your on that for a while and it starts increasing again they take you up to the maximum dose, after that its ace inhibitors, after that it's beta blockers. Then uts kidney failure and then its bladder cancer. You have to take responsibility for your own health. Ive found natural alternatives for my medications and it's working and I have posted a vlog on my solutions but I don't get the views unfortunately.

I learned A LOT !

Hi Doc I’m a diabetic but control my blood sugar by diet alone Unfortunately I’m on blood pressure medication I hover around 130-140 /79 I’m 74 years old What would be a safe reading for me I can bring down my numbers a bit by totally relaxing for 5 minutes before taking my blood pressure. Thank you

I am 70 and was on med (one, forgot the name) against high pulse cause my heart was beating way to much. One day after dinner I passed out and when I woke up I could not move a muscle in my body. After a while I managed to sit and lean against the wall and after a while more I could get up and sit on the porch while waiting for the ambulance. I was in the hospital for a week and then I was send home with a bunch of meds. They wanted me to take double the high blodpresure med I was already on and gave me some more. The problems is my blodpresure went down even before they told me to take twice as much meds against high blodpresure so doubling the intake of those meds was really bad for me and one night I thought I would die. It was a really horrible feeling. The problems, and this is totally ignored, is that now my blodpreasure is pretty ok but I lost half of my vision on my right eye so I pretty much have to turn my head to be able to see what is going on on the right hand side. My balance sucks too and it has gone months to get back to a semi normal life again. My guess is that I hade a small stroke and my heartproblems where already there since a couple of years back. I am in Sweden but your information is the best I have seen about age and the different kinds of blodpressures there are. I do not know but to me the heathcare system sucks overe here and do not see not many Swedish doctors on here at all so this is maby not so strange. It is pretty much free health care over here though and for example at the moment my meds are free up to like two thousand Swedish before I have to pay for them again and that is a good thing.

Challenging the assumptions in the video "Blood Pressure and Aging - the surprising answer" by Adam J. Story, DC, with logic involves critically examining the claims and reasoning presented: 1. **Aging and Blood Pressure**: The video posits that it's natural for blood pressure to increase with age. While it's true that physiological changes occur with aging, the assumption that increased blood pressure is a harmless part of aging could be misleading. Increased blood pressure, even in older adults, is associated with heightened risks of cardiovascular diseases. It's important to differentiate between 'normal' aging changes and 'healthy' aging changes. 2. **Comparison to Other Aging Changes**: Comparing increased blood pressure to changes in skin or hair might oversimplify the issue. Unlike skin or hair changes, increased blood pressure has direct and serious health implications, including the risk of stroke, heart attack, and kidney problems. 3. **Arteries Aging Like Garden Hoses**: While the analogy of aging arteries to garden hoses illustrates the concept of decreased elasticity, it might not fully encompass the complexity of cardiovascular health. Factors like plaque buildup, endothelial function, and systemic inflammation also play crucial roles in cardiovascular health and are not addressed in this analogy. 4. **Risks of Aggressive Blood Pressure Treatment**: The video raises valid points about the risks of over-treating blood pressure in the elderly. However, it's crucial to balance these risks with the dangers of untreated hypertension. Medical decisions should be individualized, considering a patient's overall health, co-existing conditions, and the potential benefits and risks of treatment. 5. **Systolic vs. Diastolic Pressure**: The emphasis on the difference in treatment approaches for systolic and diastolic pressure is valuable. However, the assertion that lifestyle changes can rapidly and effectively control systolic pressure might not apply to everyone, especially those with severe or long-standing hypertension. 6. **Lifestyle Changes as a Solution**: Suggesting lifestyle changes (like diet and stress management) is beneficial, but the video might underplay the role of medications for some individuals. In cases of severe hypertension or when lifestyle changes alone are insufficient, medication remains a critical component of treatment. 7. **One-Size-Fits-All Approach**: The video seems to lean towards a general approach for all older adults. Blood pressure management should be highly personalized, considering the individual's health status, life expectancy, and other risk factors. 8. **Evidence and Consensus**: The presenter mentions other doctors who share his views but doesn't provide specific studies or consensus guidelines that support his claims. Relying on anecdotal evidence from select professionals without broader scientific backing may not provide a complete picture. In summary, while the video presents an interesting perspective on blood pressure management in aging, it's important to approach its conclusions with a comprehensive understanding of cardiovascular health, individual patient needs, and evidence-based medical guidelines.

Took me until my late 30s to grow a beard. Now a pensioner and I'm still waiting to find a single hair on my chest. 😂

I thought that it has long been recognised that the salt intake in advanced societies is responsible for the rise in blood pressure with age. We consume many times what is required. In societies with very low salt intake, blood pressure does not rise with age.

I have arthritis knots in my upper arms. Can't remember the technical name for the knots. my dermatologist called them some kind of node. I've told my PCP to use a wrist cuff to take my BP because the arm cuff hurts my arm. That's one reason my BP is always high at the doctor office. I'm going to start refusing to let them take my BP. I even bring my own wrist cuff from home. If consistency is key, the doctor should use the same type of cuff a patient uses daily at home. They insist on comparing apples to oranges, Then over prescribe.

good common sense . subscribed

Can you provide the list of other providers you said that also have the same though process? not seeing in your notes

You can try breathing exercises to lower your blood pressure here. These breathing exercises help you fall asleep easier too. 6 Breaths Per Minute - Pressure Perfect - Lower Blood Pressure by breathing

very interesting I thankyou for sharing this :)

Finally some truth.

Okay So what pressure is 'normal' in an aging person. My family genes hit the jackpot, in a bad way. We are very susceptible to high blood pressure. I eat healthy , exercise and have lost 30 to 40 lbs but blood pressure is still up at 67. What would be my 'acceptable ' blood pressure in the 60s 70s

There is this lady im community she is 92 still strong and no blood pressures

120/80.

I think you are wrong about aging and the human body. I am 56 yrs old and my body is the same as it was in my 30's. My blood pressure is still perfect and the same as it always has been. I am still as fit and healthy, actually healthier in my 50's than I was in my 30's..... hard to believe ? My muscle mass and strength is stronger now than my 30's with minimal training. My lung capacity is greater now also, I can run longer without losing my breath, and I can read small print without the need for glasses. I have learnt that the body regenerates everything when not being attacked by the toxic nature of most of the everyday food we eat. I take no medication and keep right away from the medical fraternity, they are unfortunately indoctrinated into the big pharma false narratives. Just do the opposite of what ever the medical association recommends is pretty much the safer bet in my experience. I have put my partner on the same diet and health regime and she is also in her 50's and has the same result. Its interesting to watch people around us becoming more and more affected by age and yet they never listen to our advice. We are in an age of deceit.

I have been tracking my BP bc my HCP decided to start me on amlodipine after our vert first visit. 1st BP was taken with the large cuff which gave a wrong reading, then she re took it after I had been sitting in the office talking (I'm very animated when talking and was already upset bc they marked me as a no show and had been waiting for 30 min after my apt time for them to realize i was actually there, so I was annoyed). I do think I have white coat syndrome bc hospital visitis are like this usually bc in my head I am worrying how high it was read today. At home I do deep breathing and my readings are range highest SBP 130-115 to DBP 79-88 I also have annotated activity so usually the higher numbers are after my 12 hr shifts on my feet the entire time and dehydrated. I also track my BGL bc I am sitting at prediatic with an A1c of 5.7, so I am currently trying to bring my BP down naturally with ketocarnivore/low carb diet. I was a Marine for 15.5 yrs so exercise is incorporated. Right now I think my biggest problem is sugar, but the doc will not accept that answer, and she also said I will be on the amlodipine or she thinks for life. at 4 wks I will present my data and hope (but doubt) that she will open her mind that I do not need (in my opinion) the BP med and that we should try lowering my BGL/A1c and go from there. I have listend to your videos but may be mixing up with other ppl. Do you believe BGL and HTN are related?

Other countries have different measures of high blood pressure, why do vets not measure blood pressure? Perhaps many of the "signs of aging" are poor food choices we were taught by the medical community was healthy?

DR. Story I am 87 and wouid like to know if a low Pluse of 55 is too low. thanks from Venezuela

Amen!🙏

My doctors at one of the nations biggest health care providers dont seem to mind my pressure being 138. They never say a word about it in my office visits, Their only concern is my lipid panel. but the only way to get a significantly lower risk factor is to get younger or become a female. Taking a stain gets me only a slight improvement.

Question: I have started cold water sea swimming in England to increase my exercise. I love it but is it good for blood pressure? Thanks