A few days back I attended a CME on Management of Heart diseases. Being a paediatrician I rarely get a chance to attend the CME belonging to a different speciality. My understanding of cardiovascular disease and Diabetes is 2 decades old now. Often I do read updates on a few diseases when one of my friend or relative rings me up to take a 2nd to advise or to reassure themselves. But this time - It was a different issue.
I heard the whole lecture and got sceptical when told that NORMAL BLOOD PRESSURE is 120/80. Age old teaching has always defined the normal blood pressure as a range depending on many factors. I had read about the white coat hypertension and was taught to take the blood pressure 2-3 times after adequate rest before labelling the patient as hypertensive. But no this was real - I was told irrespective of age or any other factor the definition of normal blood pressure is…
