American Heart Association releases new guidelines for blood pressure management

If you've ever been puzzled by blood pressure numbers or wondered what’s really changed in the guidelines, you’re in the right place. On August 14, 2025, the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC), along with a slew of trusted partners, dropped their 2025 guideline for preventing, detecting, evaluating, and managing high blood pressure in adults.

In the US, nearly half of adults (46.7%) have high blood pressure, and it’s still the single most modifiable risk for death worldwide. This new guideline doesn’t just outline targets, it puts you at the center, blending lifestyle, science, and real-world tools. Whether you’re looking after your own health or supporting a loved one, it's about feeling empowered, not overwhelmed.

Prevention first, but be ready to act fast
Still the star of the show: lifestyle. Think heart-healthy diet, less salt, exercise, stress management, you know the drill. But the new guidance encourages early treatment, when needed, to help ward off not just heart attacks and strokes, but also kidney issues, type-2 diabetes, and even memory decline and dementia. Yes, your brain, too, is in the game.

A smarter risk calculator: PREVENT
Meet PREVENT, the brand new risk calculator debuting in 2023, now officially part of the guideline lineup. It estimates your 10- and 30-year risk of heart trouble by weighing age, blood pressure, cholesterol, and even zip code, as a nod to social determinants of health

Sharper lab tests
Kidneys and hormones get a closer look: the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio test is now routine for all hypertensive patients, not optional anymore. . On top of that, the aldosterone-to-renin ratio test, used to detect a specific hormone-driven type of high blood pressure (primary aldosteronism), now applies to more people, especially if you also have sleep apnea or stage 2 hypertension.

Brain health gets a spotlight
Turns out, your blood pressure isn’t just a heart and kidney issue, it’s a brain issue, too. Even slight increases can chip away at memory and cognition. That’s why the guideline now targets a systolic (upper number) goal of under 130 mm Hg, especially to protect your brain.

Medication gets personalized
For many adults, especially those juggling type-2 diabetes, obesity, or kidney disease, one pill might not do it. The updates encourage starting with drug classes like ACE inhibitors, ARBs, calcium-channel blockers, or thiazide diuretics. If stage 2 hypertension (140/90 mm Hg or up), a combo pill, two drugs in one, is often the way to go. And for some individuals struggling with obesity, adding newer options like GLP-1 medications (yes, the ones often in the headlines) may make sense.

Pregnancy gets a careful tune-up
Hypertension during pregnancy is no joke, with risks like preeclampsia or even preterm delivery. The guideline steps up: recommending low-dose aspirin (81 mg/day) for some, tighter blood pressure control during pregnancy (140/90 mm Hg threshold), and continued monitoring postpartum, because high blood pressure can hang around after childbirth.

The lifestyle hot sheet: Real, doable, effective

Here’s your personal game plan:
Salt: Keep it under 2,300 mg/day, ideally closer to 1,500 mg. Hint: packaged and restaurant foods are the main culprits, not the salt shaker.

Alcohol: Skip it if you can. If not, aim for no more than two drinks/day for men, one for women.

Stress: Not evict it, just manage it. Exercise, meditation, breathing checks, yoga, pick your calm.

Weight: A modest 5% reduction can go a long way.

Diet: Go for DASH, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. Think fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, seeds, lean protein, low-fat dairy, and healthy oils.

Exercise: At least 75–150 minutes per week of cardio and/or strength training. You got this.

Home Monitoring: Don’t just trust clinic readings—track your numbers at home too. It helps you, and it helps your doctor personalize treatment.

“High blood pressure is the most common and most modifiable risk factor for heart disease,” said Chair of the guideline writing committee Daniel W. Jones, M.D., FAHA, dean and professor emeritus of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson, Mississippi, and was a member of the writing committee for the 2017 high blood pressure guideline. “By addressing individual risks earlier and offering more tailored strategies across the lifespan, the 2025 guideline aims to aid clinicians in helping more people manage their blood pressure and reduce the toll of heart disease, kidney disease, Type 2 diabetes and dementia,” he told Eurekalert.

The guideline, led by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines, has been developed in collaboration with other health care organizations: the American Academy of Physician Associates; the American Association of Nurse Practitioners; the American College of Clinical Pharmacy; the American College of Preventive Medicine; the American Geriatrics Society; the American Medical Association; the American Society of Preventive Cardiology; the Association of Black Cardiologists; the National Medical Association; the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association; and the Society of General Internal Medicine.