ABSTRACT
The JNC VII and VIII dene normal blood pressure (BP) in adults as less than 120/80 mmHg. Prehypertension is not a disease but a dened group of patients who have systolic BP of 120-139 or diastolic BP of 80-89. This group merits closer follow-up to be sure they do not develop hypertension. For an adult, a resting BP of 140/90 or above on a screening test followed by two ofce BP measurements at or above this level with an appropriate-sized cuff conrms the diagnosis of hypertension.25 JNC VII further classied hypertension into stage 1, which are individuals with BPs between 140/90 and 159/99. Stage 2 hypertension includes individuals with BP of 160/100 or greater. Systolic or diastolic hypertension is a subcategory in which one of the two parameters exceeds normal values but not both.
