A 20 year old is found to have blood pressures of 134/86 and 136/89 on two separate occasions. He will be classified as:
## **Core Concept**
The classification of blood pressure in adults is based on the guidelines provided by the American Heart Association (AHA) and other hypertension guidelines. These guidelines categorize blood pressure into several levels: normal, elevated, stage 1 hypertension, and stage 2 hypertension.
## **Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The given blood pressures are 134/86 and 136/89 on two separate occasions. According to the AHA guidelines, blood pressure categories are defined as follows:
- Normal blood pressure: Less than 120/80 mmHg
- Elevated blood pressure: 120-129/80 mmHg
- Stage 1 hypertension: 130-139/80-89 mmHg
- Stage 2 hypertension: 140 or higher/90 or higher mmHg
Given that the patient's blood pressures are 134/86 and 136/89, both readings fall into the category of **Stage 1 hypertension** because they are within the range of 130-139/80-89 mmHg.
## **Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
- **Option A:** This option is incorrect because the blood pressure readings do not indicate normal blood pressure (<120/80 mmHg).
- **Option B:** This option is incorrect because the readings do not fall into the elevated blood pressure category (120-129/80 mmHg).
- **Option D:** This option is incorrect because the readings are not high enough to be classified as Stage 2 hypertension (≥140/≥90 mmHg).
## **Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
A key point to remember is that the diagnosis of hypertension requires multiple readings over time, as seen in this case. It's also crucial to understand that lifestyle modifications are often recommended for individuals with Stage 1 hypertension, in addition to regular monitoring.
## **Correct Answer:** .