Overview

• The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology issued their first major update since 2017, keeping diagnostic categories but overhauling treatment strategy.
• The overarching treatment goal is under 130/80 mm Hg for adults, with intensity tailored to clinical context.
• A new PREVENT risk tool guides earlier drug therapy for some stage 1 cases, including those with a calculated 10-year cardiovascular risk above 7.5 percent.
• Lifestyle advice is elevated with specific actions such as an ideal sodium limit near 1,500 mg per day, at least 150 minutes of weekly aerobic activity, home blood pressure monitoring, and alcohol guidance presented as moderation in some reports or abstinence in others.
• The guidance sets a measurable weight-loss target of at least 5 percent, which experts say can lower blood pressure by about 5–10 mm Hg and improve metabolic control in people with diabetes.