Threshold unchanged for diagnosing hypertension

China will not lower its high blood pressure range as suggested by a recent clinical guideline, the top health authority said on Tuesday, handing the final verdict on a hotly-debated issue that sent jitters across a sizable population teetering on the brink of high blood pressure.

However, experts have also recognized that in a country with over one-fifth of adults already living with the condition, expanding awareness of healthy lifestyles and early prevention among at-risk groups is vital to reduce related deaths.

Last week, the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases and the Chinese Medical Doctor Association jointly released a clinical practice guideline for hypertension management, suggesting resetting the diagnosed threshold for high blood pressure to 130/80 millimeters of mercury, down from the current trigger of 140/90.