Dr. Jayne Kivai
Cardiologist
Hypertension
Hypertension, also known as High Blood Pressure, is persistently high blood pressure in the systemic arteries. It is manageable with medication and lifestyle changes such as eating healthier and exercising frequently.
| State | Systolic (upper) mmHg | Diastolic (Lower) mmHg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | <120 | and | <80 |
| Stage 1 | 120-129 | and | 80 |
| Stage 2 | 130-139 | or | 80-89 |
| Hypertensive Crisis | ≥180 | or | ≥120 |
Why the concern about hypertension/high blood pressure?
High blood pressure can lead to:
- Heart attack and instant death
- Stroke - bleed or blockage in blood vessels in the brain
- Hypertensive encephalopathy, an acute confusional state
- Heart failure
- Kidney failure
- Abnormal heart beat among others