Which criterion indicates hypertension regardless of category?

• A. Systolic above 130 or diastolic above 80
• B. Systolic above 120 or diastolic above 70
• C. Systolic above 140 or diastolic above 90
• D. Diastolic above 100 only

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that hypertension is diagnosed if either number reaches a threshold that signals elevated risk, specifically a systolic of 130 mmHg or higher or a diastolic of 80 mmHg or higher. This means any blood pressure crossing that 130/80 line flags hypertension, regardless of which category the reading would fall into otherwise. That’s why the criterion with 130 or 80 is the best: it captures all hypertensive patterns, not just the more severe ranges. The other options don’t serve as a universal diagnostic line: 120/70 sits below the hypertension threshold, so it’s not considered hypertension; 140/90 represents a higher category and wouldn’t identify all hypertensive patients who have, for example, a systolic around 132 with a lower diastolic; and focusing only on diastolic elevation (diastolic above 100) ignores many cases where systolic is high even if diastolic isn’t.