The risk of stroke increases continuously above blood pressure (BP) levels of approximately 115/75 mm Hg. Since the association is steep, and BP levels are high in most adult populations, almost two thirds of stroke burden globally is attributable to nonoptimal BP (ie, >115/75 mm Hg).
Stage 2 high blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. If you get a blood pressure reading of 180/110 or higher more than once, seek medical treatment right away. A reading this high is considered “hypertensive crisis.” Readings between 120/80 and 129/89 are considered pre-hypertension.
For those with a stroke or TIA, a BP-lowering goal of <130/80 mm Hg may be reasonable (IIb/B-R).
The Hypertension Danger Zone
If your systolic is over 180 or your diastolic is above over 120, you may be having a hypertensive crisis, which can lead to a stroke, heart attack, or kidney damage. Rest for a few minutes and take your blood pressure again. If it's still that high, call 911.
Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mm HG or lower. If your blood pressure reading is higher than 180/120 mm Hg, wait five minutes and take it again. If it's still this high, seek immediate medical treatment.
Call 911 or emergency medical services if your blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or greater and you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or symptoms of stroke. Stroke symptoms include numbness or tingling, trouble speaking, or changes in vision.
High blood pressure is something that can be monitored and treated, but there is a level when immediate action must be taken. A blood pressure over 200 in an elderly person is considered an emergency. It can lead to heart attack, stroke, and other life-threatening health issues.
Call 9-1-1 immediately if any of these signs of stroke appear: Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg; Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech; Trouble seeing in one or both eyes; Trouble walking, dizziness, or problems with balance; severe headache with no known cause.
Risk factors for stroke that can be changed, treated, or medically managed: High blood pressure. Blood pressure of 140/90 or higher can damage blood vessels (arteries) that supply blood to the brain.
Still, you can make lifestyle changes to bring your blood pressure down. Something as simple as keeping yourself hydrated by drinking six to eight glasses of water every day improves blood pressure. Water makes up 73% of the human heart,¹ so no other liquid is better at controlling blood pressure.
Anxiety doesn't cause long-term high blood pressure (hypertension). But episodes of anxiety can cause dramatic, temporary spikes in blood pressure.
Bananas. These are rich in potassium, a nutrient shown to help lower blood pressure, says Laffin.
Moderate or severe headaches, anxiety, shortness of breath, nosebleeds, palpitations, or feeling of pulsations in the neck are some signs of high blood pressure. Often, these are late signs that high blood pressure has existed for some time, therefore annual checks are recommended for all adults.
In other words, once blood pressure rises above normal, subtle but harmful brain changes can occur rather quickly—perhaps within a year or two. And those changes may be hard to reverse, even if blood pressure is nudged back into the normal range with treatment.
“The American Heart Association states that a reading of 180/110 or greater requires immediate medical attention. If you take this reading two times in a row, five minutes apart, then you must head to the nearest ER,” says Dr. Meier.
Some research suggests coffee can lower the risk for high blood pressure, also called hypertension, in people who don't already have it. But drinking too much coffee has been shown to raise blood pressure and lead to anxiety, heart palpitations and trouble sleeping.
The important thing to remember is that aspirin does not lower blood pressure on its own. However, its ability to thin out the blood can benefit some people with high blood pressure.