Hypertension - Definition

 


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Definition of hypertension:  systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 140 mm Hg or greater, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 90 mm Hg or greater.  Patients who are using antihypertensive medications are also defined as being hypertensive.  In cases when one of the SBP and DBP reading is not in the hypertensive range, then the blood pressure with the higher reading should be used to define the patient’s blood pressure class.

 

The optimal blood pressure is SBP <120 and DBP <80 as long as the blood pressure (BP) is not too low.  The health care provider should encourage lifestyle modifications.  The goal of treatment is to decrase the BP to <140/90 or <130/80 in patients with chronic renal disease and/or diabetes.

 

-Prehypertension is SBP 120-139 or DBP 80-89.  Antihypertensive medications are only indicated for compelling indications. The health care provider should encourage lifestyle modifications.

 

-Stage 1 HTN is SBP 140-159 or DBP 90-99.  Thiazide diuretics are indicated for most people without contraindications to thiazide diuretics.  The health care provider may consider starting combination medications and/or start medications for strong indications.  In addition, the health care provider should encourage lifestyle modifications.

 

-Stage 2 HTN is SBP over or equal to 160 or DBP over or equal  to 100.  Many people require two antihypertensive agents that usually include an thiazide diuretic and beta-blockers (BB) or Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) or Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) or Calcium channel blocker (CCB).

 

 
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