Do You Know the 4 Types of Hypertension? (2024)

Ranges of hypertension (high blood pressure) include elevated, stage 1, stage 2, and hypertensive crisis. A high blood pressure is typically higher than 130/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).

Blood pressure is the pressure in the arteries that deliver blood to vital organs. A blood pressure reading is one of the first things that happens during a check-up. A healthcare provider uses a cuff that inflates to detect blood pressure. You can also measure blood pressure at home.

The problem with high blood pressure is that the vast majority of people don't experience symptoms. This is the reason high blood pressure has been called "the silent killer." Read on to learn more about the ranges of hypertension and their numbers.

What Does Heart Rate Variability Mean?

Blood pressure is the pressure in the arteries that drive blood throughout the body. The heart creates just enough blood pressure to pump blood to vital organs without damaging your arteries over time at normal levels.

Blood pressure is measured with two key metrics: a top number called systolic blood pressure and a bottom number called diastolic blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure is the peak pressure during a heartbeat while the heart is "squeezing." Diastolic blood pressure is the lowest pressure between two heartbeats while the heart is "relaxed."

A blood pressure of 120 systolic and 80 diastolic reads as "120 over 80" or "120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg)." Mercury was used in early blood pressure gauges and remains the standard unit of measurement.

Ranges of Hypertension

A healthy blood pressure range is below 120/80 mm Hg and above 90/60 mm Hg. It's important to keep your systolic and diastolic blood pressure in a normal range. The focus is often on your systolic blood pressure. It's a well-known risk factor for heart disease. The risk of death from heart disease or stroke doubles with every increase by 20 mm Hg systolic or 10 mm Hg diastolic.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a medical condition in which your blood pressure numbers are consistently above normal. Blood pressure naturally rises and falls throughout the day. It could go up if you have anxiety around healthcare providers, or "white-coat hypertension." You could also have "masked hypertension." This happens if your blood pressure is normal during a check-up but becomes higher later at work or home.

It's important to confirm a diagnosis of elevated or high blood pressure. Yours will need to be measured with a blood pressure cuff multiple times under controlled conditions. A healthcare provider can detect and treat high blood pressure depending on what stage you're in.

Elevated

Elevated blood pressure is when your readings consistently fall between 120 and 129 mm Hg systolic and less than 80 mm Hg diastolic. Shifts to a healthier lifestyle can prevent the development of high blood pressure. Yours may continue to rise if you don't make changes.

Hypertension Stage 1

Hypertension stage 1 occurs when your readings consistently hit 130 to 139 mm Hg systolic or 80 to 89 mm Hg or higher diastolic. A healthcare provider may recommend lifestyle changes and possibly blood pressure medication depending on your heart disease risk.

Hypertension Stage 2

Hypertension stage 2 happens when your readings are 140 mm Hg systolic and higher or 90 mm Hg diastolic and higher. You'll likely need to make lifestyle changes and take medication to lower your blood pressure.

Hypertensive Crisis

A hypertensive crisis means that your systolic is higher than 180 mm Hg and/or your diastolic is higher than 120 mm Hg. A hypertensive crisis can cause symptoms like:

	Systolic	Diastolic
Normal	90 to 120 mm Hg	60 to 80 mm Hg
Elevated	120 to 129 mm Hg	Less than 80 mm Hg
Stage 1 Hypertension	130 to 139 mm Hg	80 to 89 mm Hg or higher
Stage 2 Hypertension	140 mm Hg or higher	90 mm Hg or higher
Hypertensive Crisis	180 mm Hg or higher	120 mm Hg or higher

Hypertension Causes

There are several causes of hypertension, the risk of which usually increases as you age. Older adults typically have more stiff blood vessels than younger adults, which elevates blood pressure.

Other causes of hypertension include:

A family history of hypertension
A high-sodium diet
Anxiety or stress
Certain health conditions, such as diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), or kidney disease
Drinking too much alcohol
Obesity
Pregnancy, which may cause a type of high blood pressure called preeclampsia
Smoking or tobacco use

Elevated or high blood pressure hinders blood flow over time. This can cause organ damage, hardening of your arteries, and plaque build-up in your arteries. These changes narrow and stiffen your arteries, increasing the risk of blood clots, heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.

Heart Attack and Heart Disease

Hypertension damages the arteries and makes them more stiff. High blood pressure can reduce blood and oxygen flow to your heart. This may increase the risk of heart attack and heart disease. The heart muscle becomes damaged and dies without sufficient oxygen if you're having a heart attack.

Other heart-related diseases include angina (chest pain) and heart failure. Heart failure happens if the heart is unable to pump blood and oxygen throughout the body efficiently.

Stroke

A stroke can happen if high blood pressure causes the arteries in the brain to burst. These arteries help deliver blood and oxygen to the brain. Brain cells begin to die if they cannot get oxygen. A stroke may cause disabilities related to movement and speech, as well as death if it's untreated.

Kidney Disease

High blood pressure is a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD reduces kidney function, or removing excess water and waste from the body.

Prevention

The following lifestyle changes can maintain your blood pressure or bring it down to a safer zone:

Add stress management tools to your day: Dial down the pressure with tools like daily self-care habits, therapy, support groups, and relaxation techniques.
Adopt the DASH diet: DASH stands for "dietary approaches to stop hypertension." The DASH diet entails eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, poultry, fish, and nuts. You'll also cut down on sweets, sugary drinks, and red meat.
Eat less salt: Limit your salt intake to no more than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of salt per day or, ideally, less than 1,500 mg.
Get enough sleep: Schedule a bedtime and wake-up time to ensure you're getting seven to nine hours of sleep per night.
Limit alcohol: Experts advise no more than two alcoholic drinks per day for men and no more than one drink per day for women. A healthcare provider may also suggest to stop drinking alcohol altogether.
Move more: Aim for at least 150 minutes per week of aerobic exercise. This is about 30 minutes per day, five days per week. Small habits like walking briskly, taking the stairs, and parking at the back of the lot can add up.
Quit smoking: Smoking is a top risk factor for heart disease. You can quit with help, such as the Smokefree community.

It's also important to know your blood pressure and if or how it's changing. Make it a habit of monitoring your blood pressure routinely. Check your blood pressure every month or two if your readings are at healthy levels. Contact a healthcare provider to figure out next steps if yours are consistently elevated.

Meet with a healthcare provider regularly if you consistently have high blood pressure. You'll also want to see a healthcare provider if you have a family history of hypertension, even if you don't currently have the condition. Call 911 right away if you have a hypertensive crisis, or a blood pressure of 180/20 mm Hg, and symptoms like a severe headache and nausea.

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There are four ranges of hypertension: elevated, stage 1, stage 2, and hypertensive crisis. High blood pressure is generally higher than 130/80 mm Hg. Common causes of high blood pressure include a family history of the condition, obesity, and older age. You can prevent high blood pressure by eating the DASH diet, getting plenty of sleep, staying physically active, and quitting smoking.