Hypertension is a long-term disease, also called chronic disease. Its course consists of stages, and you may be diagnosed at any of these stages. Your doctor will advise a treatment plan according to your stage. Thus, you should know about these stages to be aware of your condition.
What are the stages of hypertension?
As mentioned, the course of hypertension consists of four stages:
- Prehypertension (elevated blood pressure): The systolic blood pressure ranges between 120mm Hg and 129mm Hg and the diastolic blood pressure is less than 80mm Hg (120-129/80 mm Hg).
- Stage 1: The systolic blood pressure ranges between 130mm Hg and 139mm Hg and the diastolic blood pressure ranges between 80mm Hg and 89mm Hg diastolic (130-139/80-89 mm Hg).
- Stage 2: The systolic blood pressure is higher than 140mm Hg, and the diastolic blood pressure is higher than 90mm Hg.
- Hypertensive crisis: The systolic blood pressure is higher than 180mm Hg, and the diastolic blood pressure is higher than 120mm Hg.
» Now, we will discuss the clinical features of these stages and treatment plans suitable for each one of them.
1) Prehypertension stage
elevated blood pressure (120-129/80 mm Hg):
There are more people at risk to fall in this stage of the disease. Thus, the therapeutic plan at this stage aims to control the blood pressure and prevent hypertension by recommending healthy lifestyle changes to maintain your blood pressure within an acceptable range.
Some healthy lifestyle changes include:
- A healthy diet mainly consisting of fruit and vegetables and a low amount of fat and salt.
- Regular exercise, which decreases the risk of obesity and overweight, and the risk of hypertension.
- Cessation of smoking.
- Decreased alcohol drinking.
- Avoid stress.
- Treatment of any disease that may lead to hypertension, such as kidney diseases or diabetes.
- A regular check of blood pressure readings to continuously evaluate the condition and take the right steps at the right time.
Read also; What Causes High Blood Pressure?
At this stage, a healthy lifestyle is an adequate therapeutic measure without medications unless the patient suffers from another disease -such as diabetes or kidney disease– and lifestyle modifications can’t control the blood pressure effectively.
Thus, you should follow your doctor’s instructions at this stage to decrease the risk of higher blood pressure stages that may lead to dangerous complications.
Read also; What Are The Complications of Hypertension?
