New guidelines for hypertension mean many more Americans will be classified as having the disease. Under the new guidelines, patients with blood pressures of 130 over 80 will be considered hypertensive, the old standard was 140 over 90.
The change means the percentage of Americans with high blood pressure is expected to rise from 32 percent to 46 percent.
With me to explain the significance of the new guidelines is Dr. Akil Loli.
Loli is a Cardiologist who practices at the Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital.