Blood pressure numbers are the numbers.  You cannot fudge them, you cannot cheat. If your numbers are high, you have high blood pressure and you have to get it down.

Hypertension is abnormally high blood pressure. Any reading higher than 120/80 mmHg puts you in a hypertension risk category. 

In 90% to 95% of the cases where a specific cause is unknown, the disease is called essential or primary hypertension . When the cause stems from a known medical problem or medication, it is referred to as secondary hypertension.

To understand hypertension, it helps to know what blood pressure is and how it is measured.

• Blood pressure is the amount of force pushing against the walls of your arteries as blood is pumped by your heart and distributed throughout your body.
• It is measured with an instrument called a sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff) .
• Blood pressure readings are expressed as two numbers measured in units of millimeters (mm) of mercury (Hg). For example: 130/78 mm Hg .
• The top number is called systolic pressure (the maximum pressure produced in the arteries as the heart contracts) and the bottom number is the diastolic pressure  (the lowest pressure in the arteries when the heart is between contractions, and reflects the elasticity and tone of the arteries).

For more detailed information on how blood pressure works, visit The American Heart Association Website.

When you have your blood pressure tested, you may be curious about the testing method, the numbers that represent the results, and the risk classifications that correspond with the numbers. Here are a few things to consider:

• The standard blood pressure testing method has been in use for decades. For doctors and other caregivers, administering the test is almost second nature.
• The testing instruments which are used by medical professionals (manual and digital sphygmomanometers) are extremely precise and accurate. They are checked regularly to ensure they are functioning properly.
• The standards for blood pressure levels and their corresponding risk classifications are based on exhaustive medical research and studies. They are established only after broad consensus among hypertension experts. These standards are updated regularly as new medical knowledge becomes available.

The bottom line?
Have your blood pressure checked regularly. It is the only way to find out if you have hypertension. And if the results indicate that your blood pressure is outside the normal range, waste no time in talking with your physician about a treatment plan.

What the numbers mean
The chart below is the latest guide for classification and management of blood pressure for adults age 18 and older. It is based on the latest clinical practice guidelines for the prevention, detection, and treatment of high blood pressure, presented in 2003 by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.  Regarded as the standard for diagnosing and treating hypertension, this is the guide that your physician uses for hypertension screening.

Diagnosing Hypertension
For adults 18 and older who:

• Are not on high blood pressure medicine
• Are not having a short-term serious illness
• Do not have other conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease

Additional diagnostic testing
If you have been diagnosed with hypertension, your doctor will usually conduct blood and urine tests to determine whether the condition has damaged any of your body's organs. Your doctor will also test for other complications such as kidney disease, diabetes, or a hormone disorder. Sometimes an echocardiogram will be done to determine whether the high blood pressure has started to damage the heart. A chest x-ray might also be ordered to determine if any damage to the lungs has occurred. The results of these tests, together with your blood pressure reading, will guide your physician in selecting the best treatment for you.