Range Systol c D astol c Precaut on
Class f cat ons Blood Pressure Blood Pressure Measures
Normal <120 <80 Mo itor regularly
Prehypertension 120 - 139 80 - 99 Contact your phys c an
–– H Y P E R T E N S I O N ––
Stage 1 140 - 159 90 - 99 Contact your
(Moderate) phys c an Immed ately
Stage 2 ≥160 ≥100 Contact your
(Severe) phys c an URGENTLY
(JNC-7 report: Joi t Natio al Committee o Preve tio , Detectio , Evaluatio a d Treatme t of High Blood Pressure / 2003)
3.5. What is Hypertension?
Hyp rt nsion (high blood pr ssur ) is l vat d systolic or diastolic
l v ls. In 90 to 95 p rc nt of th diagnos d cas s, th sp cific caus s ar
unknown, although th condition is oft n link d with family history, and
lif styl . This is r f rr d to as ss ntial hyp rt nsion. In th r maining
cas s, high blood pr ssur is a symptom of an und rlying, oft n tr atabl
condition, which if corr ct d, may normaliz blood pr ssur . This l ss
common typ is known as s condary hyp rt nsion. Hyp rt nsion, if l ft
untr at d, may contribut to kidn y dis as , h art attack, strok , or oth r
d bilitating illn ss s. Th following standards for ass ssm nt of high
blood pr ssur in adults hav b n stablish d by th Joint National Com-
mitt , 2003.
R m mb r only a physician is qualifi d to int rpr t th r adings
obtain d from your blood pr ssur monitor. No att mpt should v r
b mad at s lf-diagnosis or tr atm nt.
3.6. Can Hypertension be Controlled?
Although ss ntial hyp rt nsion cannot b cur d, it can usually b
controll d by alt ring lif styl (including di t), adopting a program
of x rcis , str ss manag m nt and, wh r n c ssary, with m dica-
tion und r a doctor's sup rvision.
To h lp r duc th risk of hyp rt nsion, or k p it und r control, th
Am rican H art Association (AHA) r comm nds th following:
