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Table for classifying blood-pressure values: World Health Organization (unit: mmHg)
Range
Systolic
blood pressure too low
100
60
Consult your doctor
blood pressure optimum
100 - 120
self-check
blood pressure normal
120 - 130
self-check
blood pressure slightly high
130 - 140
85 - 90
Consult your doctor
blood pressure too high
140 - 160
90 - 100
Seek medical advice
blood pressure far too high
160 - 180
100 - 110
Seek medical advice
blood pressure dangerously
high
180
110
Urgently seek
medical advice!
Diastolic
Recommendation
80 - 85
60 - 80
Colour
Light green
Green
Yellow
Orange
Red
Dark
red
Light green
The higher value is the one that determines the evaluation. Example: a readout value
between 150/85 or 120/98 mmHg indicates «blood pressure too high».
☞
Further information
• If your values are mostly «normal» under resting conditions but exceptionally high
under conditions of physical or psychological stress, it is possible that you are suf-
fering from so-called «labile hypertension». In any case, please discuss the values
with your doctor.
•
Correctly measured diastolic blood-pressure values above 120mmHg
require immediate medical treatment.
2.3. What can be done, if regular increased/low values are obtained?
a) Please consult your doctor.
b) Increased blood-pressure values (various forms of hypertension) are associated long-
and medium term with considerable risks to health. This concerns the arterial blood
vessels of your body, which are endangered due to constriction caused by deposits
in the vessel walls (Arteriosclerosis). A deficient supply of blood to important organs
(heart, brain, muscles) can be the result. Furthermore, with long-term continuously
increased blood-pressure values, the heart will become structurally damaged.
c) There are many different causes of the appearance of high blood-pressure. We
differentiate between the common primary (essential) hypertension, and secondary
hypertension. The latter group can be ascribed to specific organic malfunctions.
