Question

Kyle's doctor told him that his z-score for his systolic blood pressure is 1.75. What does this z-score indicate?

1) Kyle's systolic blood pressure is below average
2) Kyle's systolic blood pressure is above average
3) Kyle's systolic blood pressure is within the average range
4) Cannot be determined based on the given information

Answer 1

Kyle's z-score of 1.75 for systolic blood pressure indicates that his value is above the average for males his age, at 1.75 standard deviations from the mean. Option 2 is correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

Kyle's z-score for his systolic blood pressure is indicating that his pressure is 1.75 standard deviations above the average systolic blood pressure of males his age. Considering the average (mean) systolic blood pressure for males is 125 mm Hg with a standard deviation of 14, if we calculate Kyle's exact systolic blood pressure using the formula (z-score * standard deviation) + mean, we get (1.75 * 14) + 125, which equals 149.5 mm Hg.

Since a systolic blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg is considered normal, Kyle's measurement suggests that he may be in the elevated range according to the guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association.

Elevations in systolic pressure can confer a higher risk of cardiovascular events, and monitoring and managing it is important for long-term health.