Final answer:
Hypertension is officially diagnosed when a patient's systolic blood pressure exceeds 130 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure exceeds 80 mm Hg over a sustained period. The 2017 guidelines by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association define this level as hypertensive. It is essential to monitor and treat hypertension due to its potential to cause severe health issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Officially, hypertension is diagnosed when the patient demonstrates a systolic blood pressure greater than 130 mm Hg and a diastolic blood pressure greater than 80 mm Hg over a sustained period. As per the new guidelines in 2017 from the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, hypertension that should be treated is at these levels. Blood pressure is commonly expressed as systolic over diastolic, such as 120/80 mm Hg, where the first number (systolic pressure) reflects the arterial pressure during ventricular contraction, and the second number (diastolic pressure) represents the arterial pressure during ventricular relaxation.
A blood pressure reading is recorded as the systolic pressure over diastolic pressure. The optimal blood pressure for long-term cardiovascular health is at the lower end of the range, with studies indicating that a systolic pressure around 115 mm Hg can lead to fewer health problems. Unfortunately, hypertension often goes unnoticed because it's typically a silent disorder; however, it can result in serious health issues like heart attacks or strokes if left untreated.