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High blood pressure is a common disease in which blood flows through blood vessels (arteries) at higher than normal pressures.
Measuring Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood. High blood pressure, sometimes called hypertension, happens when this force is too high. Health care workers check blood pressure readings the same way for children, teens, and adults. They use a gauge, stethoscope or electronic sensor, and a blood pressure cuff. With this equipment, they measure:
- Systolic Pressure: blood pressure when the heart beats while pumping blood
- Diastolic Pressure: blood pressure when the heart is at rest between beats
Health care workers write blood pressure numbers with the systolic number above the diastolic number. For example:
|
118/76 mmHg |
Normal Blood Pressure
Normal blood pressure for adults is defined as a systolic pressure below 120 mmHg and a diastolic pressure below 80 mmHg. It is normal for blood pressures to change when you sleep, wake up, or are excited or nervous. When you are active, it is normal for your blood pressure to increase. However, once the activity stops, your blood pressure returns to your normal baseline range.
Blood pressure normally rises with age and body size. Newborn babies often have very low blood pressure numbers that are considered normal for babies, while older teens have numbers similar to adults.
Abnormal Blood Pressure
Abnormal increases in blood pressure are defined as having blood pressures higher than 120/80 mmHg. The following table outlines and defines high blood pressure severity levels.
Stages of High Blood Pressure in Adults
| Stages | Systolic (top number) |
Diastolic (bottom number) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Prehypertension | 120–139 | OR | 80–89 |
| High blood pressure Stage 1 | 140–159 | OR | 90–99 |
| High blood pressure Stage 2 | 160 or higher | OR | 100 or higher |
The ranges in the table are blood pressure guides for adults who do not have any short-term serious illnesses. People with diabetes or chronic kidney disease should keep their blood pressure below 130/80 mmHg.
Although blood pressure increases seen in prehypertension are less than those used to diagnose high blood pressure, prehypertension can progress to high blood pressure and should be taken seriously. Over time, consistently high blood pressure weakens and damages your blood vessels, which can lead to complications.
Types of High Blood Pressure
There are two main types of high blood pressure: primary and secondary high blood pressure.
Primary High Blood Pressure
Primary, or essential, high blood pressure is the most common type of high blood pressure. This type of high blood pressure tends to develop over years as a person ages.
Secondary High Blood Pressure
Secondary high blood pressure is caused by another medical condition or use of certain medicines. This type usually resolves after the cause is treated or removed.