Prehypertension

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Introduction Signs and symptoms Causes Risk factors When to seek medical advice

Screening and diagnosis Complications Treatment Prevention

Introduction

Blood pressure is the force exerted on your artery walls as blood flows through your body. Slightly elevated blood pressure is known as prehypertension. Left untreated, prehypertension is likely to progress to definite high blood pressure. Both prehypertension and high blood pressure increase your risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure.

A blood pressure reading has two numbers. The first, or upper, number measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats (systolic pressure). The second, or lower, number measures the pressure in your arteries between beats (diastolic pressure). Normal blood pressure is below 120 systolic/80 diastolic as measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Prehypertension is a systolic pressure from 120 to 139 or a diastolic pressure from 80 to 89.

When prehypertension was defined as a new category of blood pressure in 2003, many people who thought they had normal blood pressure were surprised to learn that their blood pressure was now considered elevated. Why the new category? To reinforce the health risks of even slightly elevated blood pressure.

You can't see or feel prehypertension, but there's plenty you can do about it. Weight loss, exercise and other healthy lifestyle changes can often control prehypertension — and set the stage for a lifetime of better health.

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Signs and symptoms