Seniors need less blood pressure medication

New guidelines are out that say many older adults with high blood pressure can be treated less aggressively. That could mean taking fewer pills to get high blood pressure under control.

The recommendations come from a US government-appointed panel that reviewed rigorous research. But government officials have not endorsed them and the American Heart Association is coming out with other guidelines next year.

Panel members stressed that they are not changing the definition of high blood pressure: 140 over 90. But they say adults aged 60 and older don't need to take blood pressure drugs unless their levels reach 150 over 90 or higher.

The panel says treating older adults too aggressively can lead to fainting and falls.

These guidelines were released by the Journal of the American Medical Association.