Which blood pressure threshold is commonly used to define hypertension in adults?

Which blood pressure threshold is commonly used to define hypertension in adults?

• A. Systolic above 120 or diastolic above 80
• B. Systolic above 130 or diastolic above 85
• C. Systolic above 140 or diastolic above 90
• D. Systolic above 150 or diastolic above 95

Answer: (C)

Hypertension is diagnosed when blood pressure remains elevated across measurements, not from a single reading. The standard threshold historically used to define hypertension in adults is a systolic pressure of 140 mmHg or a diastolic pressure of 90 mmHg or higher, observed on repeated visits. This cutoff reflects population studies showing increased cardiovascular risk above these levels and supports treating to reduce that risk. In practice, clinicians take multiple readings on separate occasions with proper technique, and may use home or ambulatory monitoring to confirm the diagnosis and rule out white-coat or masked hypertension. While some guidelines in recent years have proposed lower thresholds for defining hypertension, 140/90 remains the traditional and commonly taught benchmark.

Hypertension is diagnosed when blood pressure remains elevated across measurements, not from a single reading. The standard threshold historically used to define hypertension in adults is a systolic pressure of 140 mmHg or a diastolic pressure of 90 mmHg or higher, observed on repeated visits. This cutoff reflects population studies showing increased cardiovascular risk above these levels and supports treating to reduce that risk. In practice, clinicians take multiple readings on separate occasions with proper technique, and may use home or ambulatory monitoring to confirm the diagnosis and rule out white-coat or masked hypertension. While some guidelines in recent years have proposed lower thresholds for defining hypertension, 140/90 remains the traditional and commonly taught benchmark.