Diagnosing Hypertension

How is Hypertension diagnosed?

People with hypertension rarely experience any symptoms so hypertension is usually discovered when a person's blood pressure is measured during a routine visit to their physician. Because blood pressure can go above normal for brief periods, hypertension is not diagnosed on the first measurement of high blood pressure, unless the blood pressure is extremely high or organ damage is present. Generally three visits, often scheduled one to two weeks apart, are needed to diagnose hypertension. If the blood pressure continues to be high on all three visits, hypertension is diagnosed and treatment is recommended. Up to five measurements may be required when blood pressure is only a little above normal with no organ damage present.

How do I know how serious my hypertension is?

Hypertension is sometimes classified according to severity. The following is a commonly used classification.