BLOOD PRESSURE RANGES AND ACTIONS TAKEN
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Blood Pressure Category
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Ranges for Most Adults (systolic/diastolic)
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Actions Taken after Initial
Diagnosis
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Optimal Blood Pressure (systolic/diastolic)
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Systolic below 120 mm Hg
Diastolic below 80 mm Hg
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No action.
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Normal Blood Pressure
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Systolic 120 to 130 mm Hg
Diastolic 80 to 85 mm Hg
(The upper numbers should be minimum goal for everyone, particularly people
with diabetes.)
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Rechecked every two years.
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High Normal Blood Pressure
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Systolic 130 to 139 mm Hg
Diastolic 85 to 89 mm Hg
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Blood pressure monitored at
home and patient should be evaluated for organ damage.
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Hypertension (High Blood
Pressure)
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Systolic above 140 mm Hg
Diastolic above 90 mm Hg
(In middle age and older people, systolic pressure above 140 mm Hg suggests
higher health risks even when diastolic pressure is normal or low.)
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Mild Hypertension (Stage 1)
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Systolic 140 to 159 mm Hg
Diastolic 90 to 99 mm Hg
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Same as high normal. If no organ
damage, retesting at least twice a week for several weeks. If organ damage
present, start drug therapy.
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Moderate Hypertension (Stage
2)
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Systolic 160 to 179 mm Hg
Diastolic 100 to 109 mm Hg
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Same as high normal. If no organ
damage, retesting at least twice a week for several weeks. If organ damage
present, start drug therapy.
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Severe Hypertension (Stage 3)
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Systolic 180 to 209 mm Hg
Diastolic 110 to 119 mm Hg
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Same as high normal. Consider
immediate drug therapy regardless of organ damage evidence.
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Very Severe Hypertension (Stage
4)
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Systolic greater than 210 mm
Hg
Diastolic greater than 120 mm Hg
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Same as high normal. Consider
immediate drug therapy regardless of organ damage evidence.
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Note: If one measurement is
normal and the other elevated, the higher category of either measurement
is usually used to determine severity. For example, if systolic pressure
is 165 (moderate) and diastolic is 92 (mild), the patient would still be
diagnosed with moderate hypertension. It should be strongly noted that a
high systolic pressure compared to a normal or low diastolic pressure should
be a major focus of concern in most adults.
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