RALEIGH — Valinetine’s Day is upon us, and as we think about matters of the heart, we’re reminded February is Heart Month.

The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology have introduced new blood pressure guidelines for us to follow. 

Spectrum News anchor Caroline Blair sat down with Deborah Heath, Nurse Practitioner with MinuteClinic for a look at the changes. She says for the last 14 years, patients have been given some leeway with their numbers. In the past, 140/90 or lower was considered normal. However, those numbers have changed to 120/80 to help reduce cardiovascular disease. 

Heath says blood pressure ranging from 121-129/80 is now considered “elevated,” and a primary care provider will likely recommend some life changed to help lower the pressure. She says weight loss, exercise, less salt and alcohol intake, smoking less and lowering stress can all help lower blood pressure readings. 

She also says that 130-139/80-89 is now classified as stage 1 Hypertension. If this is the case, physicians will usually do a 10-year risk assessment for cardiovascular disease, calculating your outside factors, age, weight and other health conditions to determine if lifestyle changes are needed or medication. However, she says a reading of 140/90 or higher is considered stage 2 hypertension, and almost certainly requires lifestyle changes and potential blood pressure medication.