New Delhi. The formula ‘Age + 100 is normal blood pressure’ is no more true today. Blood pressure at any age should be kept lower than 120/80 mmHg.

Quoting an international study, Dr KK Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India, said that giving blood–pressure reducing drugs even after the age of 80 reduces the risk of paralysis, heart attack, and deaths. The study, Hypertension in the Very Elderly trial, included 3800 people above the age of 80 people with high BP.

Dr. Aggarwal said that any chest pain which lasts for less than 30 seconds is not a heart pain. Heart pain classically lasts for minutes and if it lasts for more than 20 minutes, heart attack should be suspected.

Dr. Aggarwal also said that any chest pain which can be pinpointed by a finger is unlikely to be a heart pain. A heart attack pain is diffuse in the centre of the chest and is in the form of burning, discomfort, heaviness or feeling of pressure. Dr. Aggarwal said that first-onset breathlessness, chest pain, weakness, exhaustion, after the age of 40 should not be ignored. He also said that people after the age of 40 should not do unaccustomed exercises whether it is pushing a car, having extra marital sex or participating in strenuous sports for the first time in life.