Is Your Blood Pressure in the Danger Zone?

Is Your Blood Pressure in the Danger Zone?

The proportion of the U.S. population with hypertension, or high blood pressure, has grown by about 8% in the last decade, according to a recent study. Now, approximately one-third of adults have this condition.

Even if you’ve been told in the past your blood pressure was fine, new national guidelines now include a “prehypertension” category that deems unsafe what was previously considered normal.

Raising the Bar
Health officials created the new prehypertension category specifically to alert people to an increased risk of developing hypertension and its accompanying health problems.

Under the new standards, optimal blood pressure is lower than 120/80 mmHg. Anything between 120/80 and 139/89 is considered prehypertension—even if just one of the numbers falls within that range. Untreated, those with prehypertension are likely to develop the full-fledged hypertension that can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Take Action
Women with prehypertension are urged to adopt healthy lifestyle habits that may help prevent hypertension. These include:

  • staying at a healthy weight
  • avoiding smoking
  • eating a low-salt, low-fat diet
  • exercising regularly
  • limiting alcoholic beverages.

If your blood pressure is higher than 139/89, you already have hypertension. But taking the above steps can help you manage the condition, too.

Women, particularly older ones, are likelier than men to develop high blood pressure. African-American women face an even higher risk than Caucasian women.

About one-third of those with high blood pressure are unaware of it. Because hypertension often has no symptoms, be sure to get your blood pressure checked at least every two years.


Do you know your blood pressure numbers? Attend a cardiovascular screening. See class listings on A Woman’s View Calendar for details!

Scroll to Top