Your blood pressure is measured in two numbers that are listed as a fraction. The top number is the systolic, which represents when your heart beats. The bottom number is the diastolic and represents when the heart is at rest. Your blood pressure tells you how hard your heart is working to pump blood through your body. As your blood pressure rises your chances for heart disease rise because your heart muscle is working harder than it needs to. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a major risk factor for heart disease, heart attack and stroke. In most cases hypertension exists with no signs or symptoms, which means it is important to have your blood pressure checked regularly. There are hypertension classifications based on how high your blood pressure is. Understanding these classifications or stages of hypertension and taking the necessary steps to lower your pressure will help you to avoid serious illness.
Prehypertension
Before you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, you may be diagnosed with prehypertension. This diagnosis serves as a warning sign. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it occurs when your pressure reaches between 120 to 139 mm Hg over 80 to 89 mm Hg. This is because "ideal" blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg and slightly lower. At this stage your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes to help prevent hypertension.
Stage 1 Hypertension
The Texas Heart Institute states that your doctor will usually need to have your blood pressure test high on several occasions before making a diagnosis. It is not usually diagnosed after just one high reading. However, if on several visits your blood pressure reading is between 140 to 159 mm Hg over 90 to 99 mm Hg, you may be diagnosed with stage 1 hypertension. Your doctor may want you to try diet, exercise, stress management and other lifestyle changes for a period of a few months before starting you on medication.
Stage 2 Hypertension
Stage 2 hypertension is usually diagnosed when your blood pressure rises to 160 mm Hg or higher over 100 mm Hg or higher. At this stage there are a variety of medications that can help you to bring your numbers down. The American Heart Association claims that both numbers do not need to be high, however your doctor may be more concerned about the top or systolic number. This reading can correlate to plaque buildup in your arteries, which is a major cause of hypertension.
Hypertensive Crisis
If your systolic blood pressure rises to 180 mm Hg or higher or the diastolic number goes over 100 mm Hg you may be experiencing a hypertensive crisis. This situation requires immediate medical attention as it may be a warning sign of a heart attack or stroke. Along with your high blood pressure, be on the lookout for a headache, chest pain or pressure, dizziness, trouble breathing, sweating, trouble speaking, weakness, loss of muscle coordination, feeling anxious or a general sense of not feeling well.
Secondary Hypertension
The Harvard Medical School states that sometimes hypertension can be caused by another medical condition. Diseases that affect your kidneys, adrenal glands, thyroid gland, blood vessel diseases, tumors and even some medications can all cause your blood pressure to rise. With secondary hypertension, treating the underlying condition will be a major part of your treatment plan to lower your blood pressure.
