When Blood Pressure Is High
For adults over 18 years old, properly measured blood pressure that is 140/90 or greater on two or more separate occasions is considered high blood pressure or hypertension; a blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is considered prehypertension. Both numbers don't have to be high for you to have hypertension. The most common form of hypertension for older Americans is Isolated Systolic Hypertension (ISH). In ISH, only the top number of the blood pressure is high; the bottom number is normal. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says that for people over the age of 50, ISH is a greater risk for heart disease than if the lower number (diastolic pressure) is high.
How Do I Know if I Have High Blood Pressure?
There are usually no symptoms of high blood pressure. The only way to find out if you have it is by having your blood pressure checked regularly. Below are guidelines to help you understand what your blood pressure measures mean.
The higher your blood pressure, the greater your risk for heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and kidney disease. Anyone can develop it. It usually has no warning signs or symptoms. Once it develops, it usually lasts a lifetime. For example, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute estimates that a 55 year old person who does not have high blood pressure has a 90 percent chance of developing high blood pressure during the remainder of his/her life.
If you're an adult who has hypertension, you probably share some characteristics with the millions of others who are in the same situation. You may enjoy eating foods that taste great but that are high in calories, fat , cholesterol and salt. You may be sedentary, exercising fewer than three times a week, and you may weigh more than you should. If you also smoke, your risk of hypertension is significantly increased. Making positive changes in these areas can help manage blood pressure problems.
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Blood Pressure Classification And Follow-Up*
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Category
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Systolic
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Diastolic
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High blood pressure** Stage 2
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160 or higher
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100 or higher
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High blood pressure** Stage 1
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140-159
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90-99
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Prehypertension
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120-139
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80-89
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Optimal***
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<120
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<80
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< means less than; > means greater than or equal to
* For those not taking medicine for high blood pressure and not having short-term serious illness. These categories are from the National High Blood Pressure Education Program.
** Based on the average of two or more readings taken at each of two or more visits after an initial screening.
*** Optimal blood pressure with respect to heart disease is below 120/80mmHg. However, unusually low readings should be evaluated by your health care provider.
Source: From the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
Did You Know?
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There are no obvious symptoms of high blood pressure.
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An optimal blood pressure is lower than 120/80.
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A blood pressure that is 140/90 or higher is considered "high blood pressure."
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High blood pressure greatly increases your risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.