Hypertension

Significant blood pressure measurements
(for ages 18 and older)

IDEAL: systolic <130 / diastolic <85

HYPOTENSION
Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) <60
diastolic + (systolic - diastolic) / 3


HYPERTENSION

Stage Systolic Diastolic Follow-up & Referral
normal <130 <85 2 years
high normal 130-139 85-89 1 year
Stage 1 HTN 140-159 90-99 confirm w/in 2 months
Stage 2 160-179 100-109 refer w/in 1 month
Stage 3 180-209 110-119 refer w/in 1 week
Stage 4 210+ 120+ refer immediately

Remember:

  • Take the reading of the arm with the highest reading.
  • Must repeat the high reading on a second occasion to "diagnose" HTN.

    • References

  • Hyman B. Hypertension Update. Srv. Ophthalmol 1996: 41 Jul/Aug (1): 79-89.
  • Joint National Committee. The fifth report of the Joint National Committee on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC V). Arch Intern Med 1993: 153: 154-183.
  • Reeves RA. Does this patient have hypertension? How to measure blood pressure. JAMA, April 1995: vol. 273, no 5: 1211-1218.

    • Thanks to Nick Holdeman and Jim Koetting for the update.

    Last updated Dec 02, 1996