Table 1. Classification of Blood Pressure (BP) for Adults Age 18 Years and Older
Category Systolic BP (mm Hg) Diastolic BP
(mm Hg)		 Recommendations for Follow-up Dental Patients based on Initial BP measurements
Normal <130 <85 Recheck at recall (within 2 years)
High Normal 130-139 85-89 Recheck at recall (within 1 years)
Stage 1 Hypertension 140-159 90-99 Recheck within 1 month; if still elevated have patient evaluated by physician within 2 weeks
Stage 2 Hypertension 160-179 100-109 Recheck within 2 weeks; if still elevated have patient evaluated by physician within 2 weeks
Stage 3 Hypertension 180-209 110-119 Have patient evaluated by physician within 1 week
Stage 4 Hypertension =>210 =>120 Have patient evaluated by physician immediately
* Not taking antihypertensive drugs and not acutely ill. When systolic and diastolic pressures fall into different categories, the higher category should be selected to classify the individual's blood pressure. Isolated systolic hypertension is defined as a systolic blood pressure of 140mm Hg or more and a diastolic blood pressure of less than 90 Hg.
* Based on the average of two or more readings taken at each of two or more visits following an initial screening. Adapted from The Fifth Report of the Joint National Committee on Detection, Education, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. 1993.