High Salt Intake: Too much of sodium in the bloodstream causes higher water retention in the body and causes the blood pressure to increase.

Obesity: Being overweight increases the chances for a person to develop hypertension.

Smoking: Tobacco contains the hormone adrenaline that makes the heart beat faster and thus raises the blood pressure.

The doctors will also recommend medication for hypertension depending on how much higher the BP is as compared to the normal blood pressure range and any other health problems that the patient faces. Doctors advise these people to make effective lifestyle changes to help lower their blood pressure, such as maintaining a healthy weight, including exercise in their daily routine, limiting salt and alcohol intake, and quitting smoking. The other type of hypertension is called Secondary Hypertension, and this type is caused by different diseases, and a person’s lifestyle factors, like diet, sedentary lifestyle, alcohol intake etc.Ī person consistently showing blood pressure higher than 140/90 over several readings is considered to have hypertension. Hypertension is actually of two types, one is called Primary Hypertension or Essential Hypertension, and this type of hypertension develops gradually over the years as a person ages, and it has no known causes. People with prehypertension will definitely progress to hypertension if they do not make lifestyle changes that will help lower their blood pressure. Prehypertension and HypertensionĪn adult is considered to have prehypertension if his/her systolic blood pressure is constantly above 120 but below 140, or if the diastolic blood pressure is above 80 and below 90. Doctors usually use an average of multiple blood pressure readings taken over a period of several days to arrive at a diagnosis of high blood pressure.

Blood pressure levels can fluctuate significantly from one reading to the next and it is important to remember that just one abnormally high reading does not signify that you have high blood pressure. Understanding the normal BP range with age can help the doctor and you to estimate your cardiovascular health. Normal BP Range For Adults By Age Age Group

Adolescent blood pressure chart