Understanding High Blood Pressure: Symptoms, Risks & Diagnosis

Regular blood pressure readings can detect whether a person has high blood pressure. Undiagnosed high blood pressure may increase the risk of serious medical conditions, and without regular readings a person may not realize their risk.

Significance

• According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one of every three Americans has high blood pressure, and your risk for high blood pressure increases with age.

Diagnosis

• The first number in a blood pressure reading is systolic blood pressure and the second is diastolic blood pressure. One or both numbers may be higher than normal and result in a high blood pressure diagnosis.

Types

• According to the Mayo Clinic, there are three types of high blood pressure, including prehypertension, stage 1 hypertension and stage 2 hypertension.

Features

• According to the Mayo Clinic, normal systolic blood pressure is less than 120, while 120 to 139 is considered prehypertensive and 140 or greater is considered high.

Features

• Diastolic blood pressure readings should be less than 80, while 80 to 89 is considered prehypertensive, and 90 or greater is considered high.

Considerations

• According to the Mayo Clinic, a gradual rise in blood pressure is normal in healthy people as they age, but high blood pressure is not normal at any age.

Warning

• High blood pressure may not result in any symptoms, and if not brought to a healthy level may result in kidney disease, blindness, heart attack or stroke.