heart and blood vessel disorders
High Blood Pressure
Classification of blood pressure
Blood pressure in adults is classified as normal, elevated blood pressure, stage 1 (mild) hypertension, or stage 2 hypertension. However, the higher the blood pressure, the greater the risk of complications—even within the normal blood pressure range—so these limits are somewhat arbitrary. Classification Blood Pressure (mm Hg) Normal blood pressure Less than 120/80 Elevated blood pressure 120–129/less than 80 Stage 1 high blood pressure 130–139 (systolic blood pressure) or 80–89 (diastolic blood pressure) Stage 2 high blood pressure 140 (systolic blood pressure) or higher or 90 (diastolic blood pressure) or higher * People who have systolic and diastolic blood pressures in different categories are considered to be in the higher blood pressure category. Information is based on the 2017 Guidelines for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults issued by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. Ahypertensive urgencyis a systolic blood pressure that is more than 180 mm Hg and/or a diastolic blood pressure that is more than 120 mm Hg but has not yet caused any organ damage that is apparent to people or their doctors. A hypertensive urgency usually does not cause symptoms. Ahypertensive emergencyis a particularly severe form of high blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure is at least 180 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure is at least 120 mm Hg, and there is evidence of progressive damage in one or more vital organs (typically the brain, heart, and kidneys), often accompanied by a variety of symptoms. If untreated, a hypertensive emergency can be fatal. 