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Hypertension and heart diseases

What is High Blood Pressure and hypertension?

Blood pressure (BP) levels are continuously related to the risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The definition of hypertension or raised Blood Pressure is therefore arbitrary. Even within the normotensive range, people with lowest levels of Blood Pressure have the lowest rates of cardiovascular disease.

Because Blood pressure is characterized by large spontaneous variations, the diagnosis of hypertension should be based n multiple Blood Pressure measurements taken on several separated occasions.

Classifications and definitions of High Blood Pressure
Category Systolic BP (mm/Hg) Diastolic BP (mm/Hg)
Optimal BP <120 <80
Normal BP <130 <85
High-Normal BP 130-139 85-89
Grade 1 Hypertension (mild) 140-159 90-99
Grade 2 Hypertension (moderate) 160-179 100-109
Grade 3 Hypertension (severe) >180 >110
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+ High Blood Pressure - detailed explanations
Updated: January, 27 2010 08:42:17
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