The Institute of Medicine (IOM), part of the National Academy of Sciences, has sounded an alarm about the under-diagnosis and under-treatment of hypertension—often called a silent killer.

While the IOM has to be right about the statistics, this is a puzzling problem. I do not know any doctors who do not reach for the blood pressure cuff as they check out a patient.

You should make it your business to know your numbers—top and bottom.

This chart from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute shows what measures are recommended and which ones signal trouble.

Categories for Blood Pressure Levels in Adults

(Ages 18 Years and Older)

	Blood Pressure Level (mmHg)
Category	Systolic		Diastolic
Normal	< 120	and	< 80
Prehypertension	120-139	or	80-89
High Blood Pressure
Stage 1 Hypertension	140–159	or	90–99
Stage 2 Hypertension	160	or	100

Legend

< means LESS THAN

means GREATER THAN OR EQUAL TO

When systolic and diastolic blood pressures fall into different categories, the higher category should be used to classify blood pressure level. For example, 160/80 mmHg would be stage 2 hypertension (high blood pressure).

Science Daily

“Public health officials and health care providers need to step up their efforts to reduce Americans’ increasing rates of high blood pressure and better treat those with the condition, which triggers more than one-third of heart attacks and almost half of heart failures in the United States each year, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.” (Emphasis added)

…”"Although hypertension is relatively easy to prevent, simple to diagnose, and relatively inexpensive to treat, it remains the second leading cause of death among Americans, and as such should rightly be called a neglected disease,” said committee chair David Fleming, director and health officer, Public Health — Seattle/King County, Seattle. “Undiagnosed and uncontrolled cases are occurring at alarming rates, even though many people with hypertension see their doctors regularly.We think health care providers can do better at helping patients control their blood pressure, but what will make the biggest difference is creating environments that help people avoid the condition in the first place through healthy eating and active living.” (Emphasis added)

Source: Science Daily News, February 22, 2010

Citation: National Academy of Sciences (2010, February 22).