Local Cardiologist Weighs in on New Heart Health and Vaccine Guidelines

12/3/2025

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) have released their first new set of guidelines to minimize hypertension since 2017. The new guidelines emphasize a comprehensive approach to assess cardiovascular risk and focus on preventable lifestyle factors like blood pressure control, alcohol consumption, managing inflammation and staying up to date on recommended vaccines.

Maya Kommineni, M.D., MPH, a cardiologist a cardiologist on staff at Northwest Health - Porter, says about 50% of all U.S. adults will develop high blood pressure during their lifetimes.

“High blood pressure remains one of the most common – and most controllable – threats to heart health,” she said. “These new guidelines highlight the importance of addressing lifestyle factors like diet, alcohol use and physical activity, because these are areas where people can take meaningful steps to reduce their risk.”

In 2017, the ACC and AHA moved the target blood pressure threshold from less than 140/90 mm Hg to less than 130/80 mm Hg for most adults. The 2025 guidelines reaffirm this lower threshold, but introduce a new tool called the PREVENT equation to assess 10-year cardiovascular risk. Unlike the previous model, it removes race as a factor and includes broader social and health metrics.

“The update also recommends earlier use of medication for patients whose blood pressure remains elevated after lifestyle changes, which could mean more younger adults begin treatment sooner to prevent long-term heart damage,” Dr. Kommineni said.

In addition to other key changes, the new guidelines also:

• Underscore the value of a multidisciplinary care team – including physicians, advanced practice providers, pharmacists and nutritionists – to help patients manage blood pressure effectively
• Strengthen the evidence linking a systolic BP below 130 mm Hg with a reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia
• Recommend that Americans limit the amount of alcohol they consume

“Even moderate alcohol consumption can raise blood pressure over time, so cutting back can have a real impact on heart health,” Dr. Kommineni said. “The new guidelines reinforce that the safest option is to avoid alcohol altogether, but even reducing intake by half can make a measurable difference.”

A separate scientific statement from the American College of Cardiology also highlights new research connecting inflammation with cardiovascular disease, stressing that the relationship is no longer considered exploratory, but clinically significant. The report recommends broader use of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) testing to assess inflammation, along with lifestyle interventions like regular exercise, a Mediterranean or DASH diet, and increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids to help reduce systemic inflammation and lower heart disease risk.

The ACC also recently issued new vaccine guidance recommending the following for adults with heart disease receive:

• Annual influenza and seasonal COVID-19 vaccines
• Pneumococcal vaccines for those 19 and older
• A single dose of an RSV vaccine for adults 75 and older or those aged 50 to 74 with cardiovascular disease

“Vaccines are an important part of protecting heart health because infections like the flu, COVID-19 and RSV can place extra stress on the cardiovascular system,” Dr. Kommineni said. “By staying up to date on recommended vaccines, patients with heart disease can reduce their risk of complications and help prevent serious illness.”

To learn more about heart care at Northwest Health - Porter visit NWHealthPorter.com/cardiac-care.

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