For most patients, health care providers diagnose high blood pressure when blood pressure readings are consistently 140/90 mmHg or above. A blood pressure test can be done in a health care provider's office or clinic. To track blood pressure readings over a period of time, the health care provider may ask the patient to come into the office on different days and at different times. The health care provider also may ask the patient to check readings at home or at other locations that have blood pressure equipment and to keep a written log of results. The health care provider usually takes 2–3 readings at several medical appointments to diagnose high blood pressure. Using the results of the blood pressure test, the health care provider will diagnose prehypertension or high blood pressure if: * For an adult, systolic or diastolic readings are consistently higher than 120/80 mmHg. * A child's blood pressure numbers are outside average numbers for children of the same age, gender, and height. Once the health care provider determines the severity, he or she can order additional tests to determine if the blood pressure is due to other conditions or medicines or if there is primary high blood pressure. Health care providers can use this information to develop a treatment plan.
Essential hypertension
Benign hypertension
Secondary hypertension
Paroxysmal hypertension
Renovascular hypertension
White coat hypertension
Labile hypertension
Systolic hypertension