What are your blood pressure numbers? And what number seems like a good idea?

Still more about the quest for blood pressure target numbers- this time, how that the gray area for high blood pressure can make risky targets of women and minorities:

Stroke risk is lower for healthy older adults with blood pressure under 140 mm Hg than in the disputed 140 to 149 mm Hg range, particularly for minorities and women, according to a cohort study.

In the prospective population-based Northern Manhattan Study cohort of 1,750 people 60 and older, and free of stroke, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) at baseline, the adjusted odds of incident stroke over a median 13 years of annual follow-up were a significant 70% higher with a systolic blood pressure of 140 to 149 mm Hg than with lower blood pressures.

The association was only seen among Hispanics and non-Hispanic blacks, with odds ratios of 2.61 and 1.93, respectively, Ralph L. Sacco, MD, of the University of Miami, and colleagues reported online ahead of print in the March issue of Hypertension.

Even if the 140-149 range is fuzzy, your best bet might be to stay under that. But as always, ask your doctor.