Patient commentary: Moving goalposts

I believe that I have had hypertension for about 10 years, but I have lost track. It may be longer. Although the length of time is a haze, one point is very clear in my mind: throughout the years the medical goalposts seem to have changed, and they keep on changing. For a patient, this is extremely confusing.

I am now 59 years old, my family is riddled with high blood pressure problems, and I have a continuous battle with my weight, although I am not obese. I work part time and am very bad at sitting still for long periods. I go through stressful periods, and I am sure …