Blood Pressure Severity and Type
Your health care provider usually takes 2–3 readings at several medical appointments to diagnose high blood pressure. Using the results of your blood pressure test, your health care provider will diagnose prehypertension or high blood pressure if:
Your systolic or diastolic readings are consistently higher than 120/80 mmHg.
Your child’s blood pressure numbers are outside average numbers for children of the same age, gender, and height.
Once your health care provider determines the severity of your blood pressure, he or she can order additional tests to determine if your blood pressure is due to other conditions or medicines or if you have primary high blood pressure. Health care providers can use this information to develop your treatment plan.