What blood pressure measurement is indicative of hypertension?

• A. Systolic above 130 or diastolic above 80
• B. Systolic above 120 or diastolic above 70
• C. Diastolic above 90 only
• D. Systolic above 140 or diastolic above 95

Answer: (A)

Hypertension is defined by blood pressure readings that exceed a threshold on repeated measurements. Under many current guidelines, that threshold is 130 systolic or 80 diastolic. So a measurement with systolic pressure above 130 or diastolic pressure above 80 indicates hypertension. The other options use either lower or higher cutoffs that don’t align with the widely adopted threshold, and some would miss people who are starting to become hypertensive. It’s also important to remember that a formal diagnosis typically requires multiple readings on separate occasions, and technique and context (like white-coat effects) can influence the assessment.