DR. RONALD ADLER: BP medications cause adverse effects such as kidney & electrolyte abnormalities, not to mention the increased risks of complications such as dizziness & falls that inevitably result when BP is lowered too much

The American Heart Assn. Has Changed 'Normal' Blood Pressure To 110/70...Every Time They Lower The Numbers, Millions Of People Need Drugs.

In 1970, Normal BP Was 160/95. In 1985 It Was 140/90. And Now 120/80 Is Considered 'Elevated.'

That's Not Medicine. That's $40B Marketing.… pic.twitter.com/mS89u0iCCH

— Valerie Anne Smith (@ValerieAnne1970) October 4, 2025

1970, 160/95.

1985, 140/90.

2017, 120/80.

The American Heart Assn. Has Changed 'Normal' Blood Pressure To 110/70.

The American Heart Assn. Has Changed 'Normal' Blood Pressure To 110/70...Every Time They Lower The Numbers, Millions Of People Need Drugs.

In 1970, Normal BP Was 160/95. In 1985 It Was 140/90. And Now 120/80 Is Considered 'Elevated.'

That's Not Medicine. That's $40B Marketing.

The bar has been lowered once again & under new guidelines, more Americans meet the criteria for high blood pressure & are pressured to start taking antihypertensive medications.

The AHA & ACC (American Heart Association & American College of Cardiology) in August 2025 just released hypertension 'updated' guidelines shifting 10 points lower across all categories in order to make more people diagnosed as hypertensive to prescribe more drugs.

'Normal' is now 110/70 or less.

'Elevated' is now 120/80 & qualifies for blood pressure medications.

'Stage 1 Hypertension' is now 130/80 & qualifies for even greater aggressive medication.

Here's why this is not medicine but marketing...

The new guidelines are based on results of a large, federally funded study called SPRINT, backed by pharmaceutical giants & stockholders...which found a 25% 'relative risk' reduction in cardiovascular events using a lower blood pressure target.

25% reduction was the 'relative risk reduction' not the 'absolute risk reduction.' Relative risk reduction is useless & misleading, whereas absolute risk reduction is the actual percent helped by an intervention.

The absolute reduction in cardiovascular events was only 2% – SPRINT also used an especially high-risk population, so patients with low or average risk for cardiovascular events had 0% benefit or absolute reduction.

Is lower blood pressure always better? definitely not...

The AHA & ACC assume that a lower blood pressure is always better, but some primary care doctors challenge that doctrine. “Once you get to a certain point, if you lower blood pressure further, your rate of stroke & heart attack increases,” says Dr. Andy Lazris, primary care doctor & Right Care Alliance council chair.

Doctors are graded on how well they get patients to the new hypertension target. These grades affect doctors’ pay.

Dr. Andy Lazris admits, “If I lower my patient’s blood pressure & they fall and break their hip due to the medication causing dizziness & fainting...I still get paid.”

“Treating blood pressure with medicine is a risky intervention,” says  Dr. Ronald Adler, associate professor of family medicine & community health at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

“BP medications cause adverse effects such as kidney & electrolyte abnormalities, not to mention the increased risks of complications such as dizziness & falls that inevitably result when BP is lowered too much,” says Adler, “Because the new guidelines suggest that people be treated initially with 2 drugs, such experiences will be even more common.”

Side Effects of Blood Pressure Medications:

Heart palpitations

Fainting

Kidney dysfunction

Angioedema (swelling of face/tongue)

Joint pain

Chronic cough

Low sodium & potassium

Dizziness

Headache

Dehydration

Muscle cramps

Gout

Insomnia

Constipation

Tiredness

Depression

Slow heartbeat

Symptoms of asthma

Sexual dysfunction