“Blood pressure?”
Mine has spiked in the last three days. How high is acceptable?
Male | 67 years old
Complaint duration: 3
2 Answers
Hypertension is a very serious issue. The current guidelines target a systolic blood pressure of less than or equal to 130 mmHg. The lower number or diastolic blood pressure should be less than 90. Blood pressures above 150 or 160 would be considered somewhat dangerous, and certainly if they are persistent and can lead to a much higher risk of heart attack, stroke and eventually kidney disease. If your blood pressure has consistently above 140 I would definitely recommend seeing your primary care doctor or a cardiologist.
Blood pressure varies with individuals. You don't say how high your pressure spiked, but normally a pressure of greater than 130-140/90 is considered to be elevated. This also depends on whether you are at rest or exercising. Also, blood pressure should be the lowest of the day when you wake up in the morning. Blood pressure may also vary if you have heart, kidney, or a variety of other chronic illnesses, or if you take certain medications, pressure may elevate or fall. A normal pressure may vary, however, it is considered below 140/90, at rest. Pressure should also be taken in both arms, as differences in pressure may indicate a problem.
