Which blood pressure reading indicates hypertension?

A blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher is a significant indicator of hypertension, which is defined as abnormally high blood pressure. According to medical guidelines, hypertension is classified by consistently elevated readings, with 140/90 mmHg being a commonly accepted threshold for diagnosing this condition.

This reading suggests that the force of the blood against artery walls during heartbeats (systolic pressure) is higher than normal at 140 mmHg and that the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats (diastolic pressure) is also elevated at 90 mmHg. These values indicate that the cardiovascular system is under extra strain, potentially leading to health complications like heart disease or stroke if not addressed.

Other readings, like 130/80 mmHg, while elevated and indicating prehypertension, do not meet the strict criteria for hypertension. Similarly, the thresholds of 130/90 mmHg and 150/100 mmHg, while they may correlate with health concerns, only the specific 140/90 mmHg benchmark aligns with the official hypertension classification criteria.