PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - John Coope
TI  - Blood pressure in the elderly
DP  - 1976 Oct 01
TA  - The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
PG  - 745--749
VI  - 26
IP  - 171
4099  - http://bjgp.org/content/26/171/745.short
4100  - http://bjgp.org/content/26/171/745.full
SO  - J R Coll Gen Pract1976 Oct 01; 26
AB  - The distribution of blood pressure levels in elderly patients is described and the evidence that higher levels are associated with morbidity at this age is reviewed. In the absence of definitive evidence about the results of treating hypertension in the elderly, the physiological factors that have to be taken into account are surveyed with particular reference to aggravating cerebral ischaemia. More potent hypotensive agents should be avoided in older patients and in practice the decision on whether to treat may depend more on the clinical context than on the level of the blood pressure itself.