Final answer:
The referral values for hypertension are a resting systolic blood pressure of 130 mmHg or higher and/or diastolic blood pressure of 80 mmHg or higher.
Step-by-step explanation:
The medical referral values for hypertension include a resting systolic blood pressure of ≥130 mmHg and/or a resting diastolic blood pressure of ≥80 mmHg. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high, leading to potential health issues such as heart attack, stroke, and kidney diseases. Blood pressure readings are comprised of two numbers: the higher systolic pressure, which occurs during ventricular contraction of the heart, and the lower diastolic pressure, observed when the heart is resting between beats. New guidelines set by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association consider a systolic pressure between 120-129 mmHg as elevated and a systolic pressure of 130 mmHg or higher, or a diastolic pressure of 80 mmHg or higher, as hypertension needing treatment.