A blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg is classified as what?

A blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg falls within the range that is classified as Hypertension Stage 1 according to the American Heart Association's blood pressure guidelines.

Hypertension is divided into several stages based on the systolic and diastolic measurements. Normal blood pressure is typically defined as less than 120/80 mmHg. Elevated blood pressure ranges from 120-129 systolic and less than 80 diastolic, while Hypertension Stage 1 is defined as having a systolic reading of 130-139 or a diastolic reading of 80-89.

Given that the reading of 140/90 mmHg contains a systolic value of 140, it clearly exceeds the threshold for Hypertension Stage 1 and indicates that the individual has elevated blood pressure that requires monitoring and potential lifestyle changes to prevent progression to more severe stages of hypertension.

Hypertension Stage 2 is defined as having a systolic reading of 140 or higher and/or a diastolic reading of 90 or higher; while the reading in question qualifies for Stage 2 due to the systolic value, its classification as Stage 1 reflects the systolic and diastolic readings aligning with specific criteria that designate them