The 14th Congress of the European Society of Cardiology in Barcelona: Elderly can reduce risk of heart attack

ELDERLY people can dramatically reduce their risk of heart attack or stroke by lowering their blood pressure, cardiologists said yesterday, writes Celia Hall.

While the effects of this would be most marked in the elderly population, a reduction in blood pressure levels by only 5 to 10 per cent in the general population could reduce cardiovascular disease and death by 20 per cent, they believe.

Dr Stephen MacMahon, director of clinical trials at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, said: 'Our view of what is normal blood pressure is really quite erroneous. Simply, where you see the lowest blood pressure in populations around the world you always see lower amounts of cardiovascular disease.

'The evidence we now have clearly supports the view that lower blood pressure does prevent heart disease as well as strokes. The benefits are great and absolute in the elderly . . . but they are also true for younger people too.'

Peter Sleight, professor of cardiovascular medicine at Oxford University, said that understanding the benefits of reducing blood pressure was starting to filter through to GPs and the public and that the elderly could do much to help themselves to reduce their blood pressure by eating less salt and taking more exercise. 'There is plenty of evidence that owning a dog can prolong life. The best thing anyone can do is to take the dog for a walk every day and to eat an apple at the same time,' he said.