Blood Pressure Chart In Depth

Hypertension is a condition prevailing in humans since ancient times, although the readings of blood pressure were always considered normal, low and high, without considering sub-categories or levels that, according its severity, make a difference in the control and treatment of patient suffering from hypertension.

During 1999, the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure published a blood pressure chart, classifying blood pressure (BP) into different categories:

Optimal

Systolic BP: less than 120 mmHg, Diastolic BP: less than 80 mmHg, Follow-up: Recheck in 2 years

Normal

Systolic BP: less than 130 mmHg, Diastolic BP: less than 85 mmHg, Follow-up: Recheck in 2 years

High-normal

Systolic BP: 130-139 mmHg, Diastolic BP: 85-89 mmHg, Follow-up: Recheck in 1 year

Hypertension

Stage 1

Systolic BP: 140-159, Diastolic BP: 90-99 mmHg, Follow-up: Confirm within 2 months

Stage 2

Systolic BP: 160-179, Diastolic BP: 100-109 mmHg, Follow-up: Evaluate within 1 month

Stage 3

Systolic BP: 180 and above, Diastolic BP: 110 mmHg and above, Follow-up: Evaluate immediately or within 1 week, depending on the clinical situation

Although high blood pressure occurs in any individual beginning at around age 2, this blood pressure chart applies to patients who are age 18 and older, who have never been diagnosed with high blood pressure, and those who are not on any hypertension treatment.

High blood pressure is also classified as Primary Hypertension or "essential hypertension, when it occurs with no known cause other than genetic or due to lifestyle factors. 95% of all persons prone to high blood pressure suffer from this type of hypertension, which classification is not shown in the tradition blood pressure chart.

Secondary hypertension is the high blood pressure which has a defined cause, usually as a result of other medical conditions or health problems, including pregnancy, oral contraceptive use, kidney disease, chronic alcohol abuse, Cushing's syndrome, or the use of certain medications and drugs.

High blood pressure is asymptomatic, this means that people have no symptoms, although many of them may experience fatigue, blurred vision, irregular or rapid heartbeat, headache, dizziness and nosebleeds. A blood pressure chart available on the Internet explains graphically all that people need to know about high blood pressure.

High blood pressure often remains undiagnosed for years, representing a dangerous condition that increases the risk of heart disease. Elderly people are the ones at major risk of hospitalization for heart failure or other fatal heart problems when their blood rises to the Stage 3 of Hypertension according to the blood pressure chart.