The American Heart Association and American Cardiology Association have updated their blood pressure guidelines. These revisions reflect new research, particularly from the SPRINT trial,

The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) was a landmark clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health and included over 9,300 adults aged fifty and older with high blood pressure and increased cardiovascular risk.

The results of SPRINT demonstrated that treating high blood pressure to a more intensive goal of less than 120 mm Hg (systolic) can significantly reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.