With great difficulty. Overall, the risk of cardiovascular disease begins at 115/75 mmHg and
doubles with each increment of 20 mmHg systolic blood pressure and 10 mmHg diastolic. This means
that if a patient’s blood pressure were to increase from 115/75 mmHg to 135/85 mmHg, the risk of stroke
and heart attack would double. Hence, even “mild” hypertension should receive serious consideration. And
systolic hypertension should not be disregarded either.
In fact, in patients older than 50, a systolic pressure >140 mmHg is a more important cardiovascular risk
factor than its diastolic counterpart. Overall, general consensus defines hypertension as the blood pressure
level above which the risk for stroke and heart disease increases significantly. This threshold is set by the
World Health Organization (WHO) at a systolic blood pressure >139 mmHg and/or a diastolic blood
pressure >89 mmHg in an adult patient who is not receiving antihypertensive medication and is not
acutely ill. Recent evidence, however, shows that this threshold should be lowered to 130/80 mmHg for
patients with diabetes, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease.
doubles with each increment of 20 mmHg systolic blood pressure and 10 mmHg diastolic. This means
that if a patient’s blood pressure were to increase from 115/75 mmHg to 135/85 mmHg, the risk of stroke
and heart attack would double. Hence, even “mild” hypertension should receive serious consideration. And
systolic hypertension should not be disregarded either.
In fact, in patients older than 50, a systolic pressure >140 mmHg is a more important cardiovascular risk
factor than its diastolic counterpart. Overall, general consensus defines hypertension as the blood pressure
level above which the risk for stroke and heart disease increases significantly. This threshold is set by the
World Health Organization (WHO) at a systolic blood pressure >139 mmHg and/or a diastolic blood
pressure >89 mmHg in an adult patient who is not receiving antihypertensive medication and is not
acutely ill. Recent evidence, however, shows that this threshold should be lowered to 130/80 mmHg for
patients with diabetes, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease.