Final answer:
Hypertension is diagnosed if blood pressure readings are consistently elevated on at least three occasions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hypertension is diagnosed if blood pressure readings are consistently elevated on at least three occasions. Blood pressure can vary throughout the day due to various factors, so multiple measurements are needed to accurately diagnose hypertension. It's important to note that a diagnosis of hypertension is made when the systolic blood pressure is consistently 140 or higher, and/or the diastolic blood pressure is consistently 90 or higher.