High blood pressure (hypertension) guidelines

Millions of people have what is called "prehypertension" according to high blood pressure guidelines from the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

The guidelines are included in the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee (JNC 7) on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure guidelines :

Blood pressure Classification
140/90 or above --> High
120/80 to 139/89 --> Prehypertension
119/79 or below --> Normal

Key points from the guidelines:

• If you have a blood pressure of 120 to 139 systolic (the upper number in a blood pressure measurement) over 80 to 89 diastolic (lower number), you are considered prehypertensive. You need to begin lifestyle changes to lower your risk for stroke, heart disease, and other complications of high blood pressure. Lifestyle changes include losing excess weight, exercising, limiting alcohol, following a heart-healthy diet, cutting back on salt, and quitting smoking.
• The increase in stroke and heart disease risk begins at blood pressures as low as 115/75 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and doubles with each increase of 20 mm Hg systolic blood pressure and 10 mm Hg diastolic. For example, if your blood pressure were to increase from 115/75 mm Hg to 135/85 mm Hg, your risk of stroke and heart attack would double.
• The lifetime risk for high blood pressure is much greater than previously thought. Ninety percent of those who, at age 55, do not have hypertension will eventually develop it.
• If you are older than 50, a systolic blood pressure over 140 mm Hg is a more important risk factor for stroke and heart disease than your diastolic blood pressure.
• Most people who need medicine to control their high blood pressure should take a thiazide-type diuretic either alone or with another hypertension medicine. You may need initial treatment with other classes of medicines—angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), beta-blockers, or calcium channel blockers—if you have other conditions, such as diabetes, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease.
• Most people with high blood pressure will need two or more medicines, including a thiazide-type diuretic, to lower their blood pressure to below 140/90 mm Hg, the goal for people with uncomplicated hypertension.
• If you have other conditions, such as diabetes, heart failure, coronary artery disease, or chronic kidney disease, your goal blood pressure is lower: less than 130/80 mm Hg.

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High Blood Pressure

Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure exerted by the blood flow on the walls of the arteries. It is the determined by the force and amount of blood pumped by the heart and by the diameter of the arteries. It consists of two components Systolic pressure and Diastolic pressure. These are normally 120 and 80 mmHg respectively. When the blood pressure exceeds these values , it leads to a condition called High blood pressure or hypertension.

There are two types of Hypertension, primary and secondary hypertension. Primary hypertension is hypertension without a specific identifiable cause. Secondary hypertension is elevated blood pressure that results from an underlying, identifiable, often correctable cause. Only about 5 to 10 percent of hypertension cases are thought to result from secondary causes.. The most common causes of secondary hypertension are kidney disease, adrenal gland disease, narrowing of the aorta and sleep apnea.

Hypertension frequently causes few or no symptoms, therefore regular blood pressure checks should be done to diagnose hypertension. When symptoms occur, the most common symptoms are headaches, dizziness, and blurred vision. In severe cases, confusion and coma are possible.

Blood pressure is usually measured with a small portable instrument called a blood pressure cuff or the sphygmomanometer. The blood pressure cuff consists of an air pump, a pressure gauge, and a rubber cuff. The instrument measures the blood pressure in units called millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

A blood pressure reading of 120/80mmHg is considered normal whereas a blood pressure of 140/90mmHg or higher is considered high blood pressure or hypertension.

Hypertension can be managed by changes in lifestyle such as by quitting smoking, eating a diet lower in cholesterol and salt, getting regular exercise, and by taking antihypertensive drugs such as beta blockers or other anti-hypertensive medications.