Master Blood Pressure Classification (ACC/AHA 2017) with Picmonic for Medicine

Routine screening of these patients should be continued at every checkup to ensure that it remains in the normotensive range.

In normotensive patients, the systolic blood pressure is below 120 mm Hg.

In normotensive patients, the diastolic blood pressure is below 80 mm Hg.

A patient’s blood pressure is considered elevated when the systolic pressure is between 120 and 129 mm Hg and diastolic is less than 80 mm Hg. These patients should be managed with diet and lifestyle modification, such as following the DASH diet, decreasing dietary sodium intake, moderation of alcohol, weight loss in overweight or obese patients, and smoking cessation.

Elevated blood pressure is classified as systolic pressure between 120 and 129 mm Hg, AND a diastolic pressure less than 80 mm Hg.

A patient’s blood pressure is considered elevated when their systolic pressure is between 120 and 129 mm Hg, AND a diastolic pressure less than 80 mm Hg.

Clinical hypertension is broken down into two stages; Stage 1 and Stage 2. Patients diagnosed with Stage 1 hypertension can often be treated with a single agent, such as a thiazide diuretic, calcium channel blocker, ACE inhibitor, or ARB.

Patients with Stage 1 hypertension have either a systolic pressure from 130 mm Hg to 139 mm Hg, OR diastolic pressure between 80 and 89 mm Hg.

Patients with Stage 1 hypertension have either a systolic pressure from 130 mm Hg to 139 mm Hg, OR diastolic pressure between 80 and 89 mm Hg.

Clinical hypertension is broken down into two stages; Stage 1 and Stage 2. Patients diagnosed with Stage 2 hypertension often require treatment with two or more agents, such as a thiazide diuretic, calcium channel blocker, ACE inhibitor, or ARB.

Patients with Stage 2 hypertension have a systolic pressure between 140 mm Hg and 179 mmHg, OR a diastolic pressure between 90 and 119 mm Hg.

Patients with Stage 2 hypertension have a systolic pressure between 140 mm Hg and 179 mmHg, OR a diastolic pressure between 90 and 119 mm Hg.

Patients with a systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 180 mm Hg AND/OR diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 120 mm Hg are considered to have hypertensive urgency if they are asymptomatic, or hypertensive emergency if they are symptomatic and have signs of end-organ damage. These patients require treatment with PO or IV medications, such as nitrates, calcium channel blockers, and beta-blockers.

Patients with a systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 180 mm Hg AND/OR a diastolic greater than or equal to 120 mm Hg are considered to have hypertensive urgency if they are asymptomatic, or hypertensive emergency if they are symptomatic and have signs of end-organ damage.

Patients with a systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 180 mm Hg AND/OR a diastolic greater than or equal to 120 mm Hg are considered to have hypertensive urgency if they are asymptomatic, or hypertensive emergency if they are symptomatic and have signs of end-organ damage.