How to Evaluate High Blood Pressure

After your doctor measures your blood pressure, your results are given to you in two numbers. The top number is the systolic pressure and measures your blood pressure as your heart pumps blood out. The bottom number measures the pressure of your heart when it is relaxed and fills with blood, according to Consumer Reports' health.org. The second number is called the diastolic pressure. When your blood pressure is normal and you are 20 or older, it should be approximately 120/80.

Instructions

How to Evaluate High-Blood Pressure

• 1

  Know the high-blood pressure categories. There are five blood-pressure categories, according to the American Heart Association. Any reading falling in a category other than normal can indicate high-blood pressure. If you are at risk for high-blood pressure, your systolic reading will be 120-139, and your diastolic number will be 80-89. This is called pre-hypertension.
  The other categories are considered stages. With stage 1 hypertension, your systolic number is 140-159 with a diastolic number 90-99. If you have a high-blood pressure reading with systolic number higher than 160 and a diastolic above 100, you're at stage 2 hypertension.
  If your systolic blood pressure is higher than 180 with a diastolic of 110 or higher, you are in a hypertensive crisis.

• 2

  Evaluate your high-blood pressure readings. Your doctor will recommend changes to your lifestyle or prescribe medication to lower high-blood pressure. With hypertension, stage 1 and 2, your doctor will check your blood pressure more often. In addition, you will probably be advised to eat healthier, if you're not already, maintain a healthy weight via physical activity, limit alcohol and avoid smoking.

• 3

  Understand symptoms of hypertensive crisis. Unfortunately, there are no conclusive symptoms to indicate that you have pre-hypertension or stage 1-2 hypertension. That's why high-blood pressure is known as the silent killer, according to the AHA. There are no symptoms until your systolic pressure is above 180 or diastolic pressure is 110 or higher. Then you're in hypertensive crisis, and you can experience, severe headaches, nosebleeds, shortness of breath and severe anxiety.