High blood pressure is classified in one of several categories — and those designations can influence treatment. Show
By Beth W. OrensteinMedically Reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH Reviewed: April 27, 2009 Medically Reviewed Doctors classify blood pressure into four categories: normal, prehypertension (mild), stage 1 (moderate) and stage 2 (severe). Treatment depends on which category your pressure consistently falls in when readings are taken. The stages are based on the Joint National Committee 7 report done by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, which is a part of the National Institutes of Health. Are you doing everything you can to manage your heart condition? Find out with our interactive checkup. How Blood Pressure is MeasuredBlood pressure is measured with an instrument called a sphygmomanometer, through which the user listens for the sound of the force of blood in the patient’s arteries when the heart beats (systolic pressure). Measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), systolic pressure is the top number in your blood pressure reading. The second, or bottom number, is the pressure in the arteries of the heart at rest — the diastolic pressure. Generally, as an adult, you are considered to have high blood pressure if your systolic pressure reading is greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg or if your diastolic pressure is greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg. But for every 20 mm Hg your systolic pressure raises above 115, and for every 10 mm Hg your diastolic pressure rises over 75, your risk of cardiovascular disease doubles — so lower pressures are generally better. Here’s a look at the current stages and their recommended treatments: If your systolic and diastolic pressures fall into different stages, the stage with the higher number is the one that counts. For example, if you have a systolic pressure of 150 mm Hg but your diastolic pressure is only 85 mm Hg, you will be classified as stage 1 hypertension, not prehypertension. And if you are over age 50, it is the diastolic number that best predicts your risk of cardiovascular disease. Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to coronary heart disease, which can mean a heart attack or stroke. You should have your blood pressure checked regularly, and follow your doctor’s advice for keeping it under control. NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Heart Health Newsletter!Enter your email By subscribing you agree to the and . The Latest in HypertensionStudy highlights the importance of knowing your numbers and being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. New Drug May Lower Blood Pressure In Hard-to-Treat PatientsThe experimental drug baxdrostat may help hypertension patients who can’t sufficiently reduce their blood pressure with other medications. By Lisa RapaportNovember 11, 2022Blood Pressure Pills Recalled Over Potential Cancer RiskThe recalled tablets may contain nitrosamine, a compound that’s associated with an increased risk of cancer. By Lisa RapaportOctober 28, 2022High Blood Pressure During PregnancyLearn about the causes of hypertension during pregnancy and how to treat it. By Cathy CassataOctober 24, 2022How to Manage Your Blood Pressure Through DietHeart-healthy diets, such as the DASH and Mediterranean diets, may help control your blood pressure. By Cathy CassataOctober 24, 20221 in 3 Heart-Related ER Visits Are Caused by Uncontrolled Blood PressureMany emergency room patients with heart problems have a type of high blood pressure that’s often caused by unhealthy habits, a new study suggests. By Lisa RapaportSeptember 29, 2022Many Older Adults Are Not Getting Prescribed the Blood Pressure Treatment They NeedConcerns over side effects and time-crunched visits may be to blame, say researchers. By Becky UphamSeptember 20, 2022High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) in ChildrenHypertension in children can be caused by an underlying medical condition, and it’s important their blood pressure is checked annually. What blood pressure is considered hypertension?Your blood pressure is considered high (stage 1) if it reads 130/80. Stage 2 high blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. If you get a blood pressure reading of 180/110 or higher more than once, seek medical treatment right away. A reading this high is considered “hypertensive crisis.”
What is high blood pressure greater than?Elevated blood pressure is defined as a systolic pressure 120 to 129, and a diastolic pressure less than 80. Hypertension is defined as systolic pressure greater than or equal to 130, or a diastolic pressure greater than or equal to 80.
How can hypertension be measured?How do health care professionals measure my blood pressure? First, a health care professional wraps an inflatable cuff around your arm. The health care professional then inflates the cuff, which gently tightens on your arm. The cuff has a gauge on it that will measure your blood pressure.
What is the highest measure of blood pressure?The first number is called the systolic blood pressure and the second is called the diastolic blood pressure. These two numbers are written as 'systolic/diastolic' followed by the unit of measurement. Systolic blood pressure is your highest blood pressure measurement and is recorded when your heart contracts.
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