Blood pressure of 150/90 mmHg comes under the category of stage I hypertension and means that you have high blood pressure. Blood pressure ranges are as follows:
- Normal blood pressure: Less than 120/80 mmHg
- Prehypertension: 120-139/80-89 mmHg
- Stage I hypertension: 140-159/90-99 mmHg
- Stage II hypertension: 160/100 mmHg or higher
High blood pressure or hypertension is a condition in which there is an increase in the pressure exerted on the wall of the blood vessels, causing damage and thickening. It is often called the iceberg disease or silent killer, as it may not cause signs or symptoms until significant damage has already been done.
Hypertension cannot be cured completely but can be managed to a great extent with lifestyle changes and medications (if needed), which can drastically improve patient outcomes.
How is blood pressure measured?
Blood pressure readings can be done with a sphygmomanometer:
- Manual sphygmomanometer: A cuff is tied to the arm and inflated. The fall of mercury in the device is observed manually using a stethoscope.
- Digital sphygmomanometer: The machine digitally provides a blood pressure reading within a minute.
A blood pressure reading is given in two parts:
- Systolic pressure: This is the pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the arteries when the heart contracts (systole).
- Diastolic pressure: This is the pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the arteries when the heart relaxes (diastole).
So in a blood pressure reading of 120/80 mmHg, 120 is systolic and 80 is diastolic pressure.
What are potential complications of hypertension?
Complications of hypertension include:
- Heart failure: Increased strain on the heart as it tries to pump blood into the system can lead to heart failure.
- Aneurysm: Damage to the blood vessels due to increased pressure can result in formation of a protrusion called an aneurysm. If ruptured, it can be fatal.
- Stroke: Thickened blood vessels can cause a decreased blood supply to the brain. Strokes occur when blood vessels in the brain rupture due to persistently high blood pressure.
- Kidney failure: Decreased blood supply to the kidney tissues can cause damage to the kidneys and eventually lead to kidney failure.
- Dementia: Hypoxic damage (due to reduced oxygen supply) to the brain tissue can lead to memory loss and brain damage.
SLIDESHOW
How to Lower Blood Pressure: Exercise and Tips See SlideshowWhat are treatment options for hypertension?
Mild cases of high blood pressure are primarily managed with lifestyle modifications, such as
However, very high blood pressure may require medications such as:
- Beta-blockers - By blocking the effect of norepinephrine and epinephrine, beta blockers reduce blood pressure by dilating blood vessels and heart rate.
- Diuretics - Diuretics are among the oldest known medications for treating high blood pressure.
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors - ACE inhibitors are blood pressure medications that inhibit the activity of the enzyme angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), which is important for controlling blood pressure.
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers - Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are medications used to treat elevated blood pressure or hypertension.
- Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) - CCBs inhibit the movement of calcium into muscle cells. The reduction in calcium reduces the force of the heart's muscular pumping action (cardiac contraction) and thereby reduces blood pressure.
Health News
- CDC Warns of Potentially Fatal Bacterial Illness on U.S. Gulf Coast
- Helping Others as Volunteers Helps Kids 'Flourish': Study
- FDA Approves Pfizer's RSV Shot for Older Adults
- What to Do When Tough-to-Treat Lymphoma Strikes During Pregnancy
- Rate of Pregnant U.S. Women Who Have Diabetes Keeps Rising
More Health News »
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Alexander MR. Hypertension. Medscape. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/241381-overview
Basile J, Bloch MJ. Overview of hypertension in adults. UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/overview-of-hypertension-in-adults
Top Is 150 Over 90 a Good Blood Pressure Related Articles
Blood Pressure Readings: Chart, Normal, High, Low
Blood pressure is the force applied by the blood over the inner walls of the arteries. Although the average blood pressure for a person remains constant, it shows minor fluctuations throughout the day—declining while relaxing and momentarily increasing while being excited or under stress. An increase in resting blood pressure can scar, stiffen, or harden the arteries.
Blood Pressure Picture
The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. See a picture of Blood Pressure and learn more about the health topic.
What Are Normal Blood Pressure Ranges by Age For Men and Women?
What is normal, low and high blood pressure? Find charts of blood pressure readings and ranges for men and women of different ages. Discover what causes high and low blood pressure and how to prevent it.
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a disease in which pressure within the arteries of the body is elevated. About 75 million people in the US have hypertension (1 in 3 adults), and only half of them are able to manage it. Many people do not know that they have high blood pressure because it often has no has no warning signs or symptoms.
Systolic and diastolic are the two readings in which blood pressure is measured. The American College of Cardiology released new guidelines for high blood pressure in 2017. The guidelines now state that blood normal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg. If either one of those numbers is higher, you have high blood pressure.
The American Academy of Cardiology defines high blood pressure slightly differently. The AAC considers 130/80 mm Hg. or greater (either number) stage 1 hypertension. Stage 2 hypertension is considered 140/90 mm Hg. or greater.
If you have high blood pressure you are at risk of developing life threatening diseases like stroke and heart attack.
REFERENCE: CDC. High Blood Pressure. Updated: Nov 13, 2017.
What Is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)? Symptoms, Treatments
What causes high blood pressure (hypertension)? What is normal blood pressure? Know the warning signs and symptoms of high blood pressure. Read about high blood pressure medications, diet, and long-term treatments.
HBP Quiz
Take this quiz and test your IQ of high blood pressure (hypertension), the cardiovascular disease that causes most strokes and heart attacks. How are dizziness, snoring, and gout related to HBP? Find the answer and learn how medical treatments and lifestyle adjustments fight this common problem.
Hypertension: Worst Foods for High Blood Pressure
Diagnosed with high blood pressure or trying to avoid it? Stay away from these foods.
Is 110/60 a Too Low Blood Pressure?
A blood pressure reading of 110/60 mmHg is usually not considered a low blood pressure.
Is 120 Over 60 a Good Blood Pressure Reading?
If your systolic blood pressure is normal (between 100-120), and your diastolic blood pressure is lower (60 or below), you are considered to have low blood pressure, or isolated diastolic hypotension. Low diastolic blood pressure should be monitored closely.
How to Lower Blood Pressure: Exercise and Tips
Trying to lower high blood pressure (hypertension)? Discover exercises good for lowering blood pressure, along with other lifestyle changes and medications to prevent high blood pressure.
What Is Normal Blood Pressure and Pulse by Age?
The American Heart Association outlines that a normal blood pressure reading of 120/80 mm Hg for adults. Here is a chart that breaks down the ideal blood pressure range by age.
What Is Normal Blood Pressure for a 60-Year-Old?
According to current guidelines from the American Heart Association, normal blood pressure for adults under the age of 65 is any blood pressure below 120/80 mmHg.
What Is the Proper Way to Take Your Blood Pressure?
If you want to monitor your blood pressure on a regular basis, you can do so at home easily using an automated or digital blood pressure machine. Here’s how to make sure your at-home reading is accurate.
What Time of Day Is Blood Pressure Highest?
Your blood pressure follows a pattern, rising a while before you wake up. It is the highest at midday and tends to drop in the evening or late afternoon.When Is Blood Pressure Lowest and Highest During the Day?
Your blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day. Check your blood pressure twice a day at around the same time every day.Which Blood Pressure Number Is the Most Important?
The blood that flows through the arteries (blood vessels carrying blood from the heart to other parts of the body) exerts pressure against the arterial walls. The number above (120) is called the systolic blood pressure and the number below (80) is called the diastolic blood pressure. Though both readings are important, many doctors believe that systolic blood pressure is a better predictor of complications of hypertension, such as heart disease or stroke.