Question

You would be diagnosed with True hypertension if your systolic blood pressure was greater than or equal to 140 mmHg or your diastolic blood pressure was greater than or equal to:

a) 90 mmHg
b) 100 mmHg
c) 110 mmHg
d) 120 mmHg

Answer 1

True hypertension is diagnosed with a systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic ≥ 90 mmHg, not 120 mmHg as mistakenly asked. It's a silent disorder that can lead to serious complications, requiring accurate monitoring for proper management.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding Hypertension

When referring to chronic hypertension, it is defined by having a systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or higher, or a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or higher. Readings between 120/80 mmHg and 140/90 mmHg fall under prehypertension, signifying a risk for developing hypertension. As for the diagnosis of true hypertension, it's not solely the systolic number that matters—the diastolic threshold for hypertension is also significant. The claim that a diastolic blood pressure of 120 mmHg indicates hypertension is incorrect; the correct value, as per clinical definitions, is 90 mmHg or higher.

Hypertension is a silent disorder, often going undetected since symptoms may not be obvious, which makes regular monitoring crucial. Untreated, it can lead to serious health issues, including heart attacks, strokes, aneurysms, peripheral arterial disease, chronic kidney disease, and heart failure. These conclusions are supported by both historical standards and new guidelines established by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.

Lastly, it's essential to use accurate and reliable tools such as a sphygmomanometer to measure blood pressure, ensuring correct diagnosis and treatment.