In August 2022, the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association provided updated guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure). The new categories include:

• Normal blood pressure is defined as <120 and <80 mm Hg
• Elevated blood pressure is defined as 120-129 and <80 mm Hg
• Hypertension Stage 1 is 130-139 or 80-89 mm Hg
• Hypertension Stage 2 is ≥140 or ≥90 mm Hg

Treatment with medication is recommended for those with Hypertension Stage 2: ≥140 or ≥90 AND for those with Hypertension Stage 1: 130-139 or 80-89 who have increased risk of cardiovascular disease. (Cardiovascular disease risk based on history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk ≥10% using the "ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Equations" in adults 40-79 years of age)

Hypertension should always be addressed with lifestyle modification as diet, physical activity, and alcohol consumption can all impact blood pressure. Please discuss maintaining healthy blood pressure strategies with your personal doctor.

References:

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.054602

https://tools.acc.org/ASCVD-Risk-Estimator-Plus/#!/calculate/estimate/