Hypertension is divided into four stages: mild (greater than 140/90 but less than 160/100); moderate (less than 180/110); severe (less than 210/120); very severe (greater than 210/120). When the systolic and diastolic numbers are in different categories the measurement in the higher category should be used to determine the severity of hypertension. For example, if systolic pressure is 165 (moderate) and diastolic is 92 (mild), the patient would still be diagnosed with moderate hypertension. A child's blood pressure is normally much lower than an adult's. Children are at risk for hypertension if blood pressure is greater than:
• 116/76 for ages 3-5
• 122/78 for ages 6-9
• 126/82 for ages 10-12
• 136/86 for ages 13-15.
High blood pressure is a very important risk factor for heart disease (coronary artery disease). There are other major risk factors as well including family history, smoking, diabetes, and high cholesterol. The effects of these risk factors are additive. A person with all of these risk factors, including high blood pressure, is more likely to develop heart disease than another person with the same blood pressure but no other risk factors.
The important point to remember is high blood pressure is not the only risk factor for heart disease and stroke. How a person's blood pressure is treated may depend on other factors in addition to the blood pressure number. The National Heart Blood and Lung institute has recognized the influence of other risk factors in addition to high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is now categorized by risk groups A, B, and C. For example, group A has no risk factors for heart disease or other medical problems; people in this risk group who have mild hypertension would use diet and exercise to try to reduce their blood pressure. Mild hypertension in group C, which covers major risk factors for heart disease, however, would probably require medication.
Blood pressure varies the same way throughout a given day. It is usually highest at work and then drops a bit at home. Pressure is lowest during sleep but suddenly increases at waking.
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