Blood Pressure Safety Zones: How High is Too High?

High blood pressure is a prevalent medical problem that leads to damage in various areas of the body, including the kidneys. Knowing where you stand with your blood pressure is critical in preventing other health issues like kidney disease or a stroke.

If you have high blood pressure, it's crucial to keep it under control. At Metro Renal Associates, our team of three experienced nephrologists provides blood pressure treatments, including medications and lifestyle treatments.

Understanding high blood pressure

High blood pressure is a serious medical problem that happens when the pressure of blood in the arteries is too high. The force of the blood damages the vessels, leading to various health issues, including kidney disease.

We grade blood pressure in different categories that help us understand your risk for chronic disease. These include:

Normal

A regular blood pressure reading is a pressure of less than 120 mmHg and a pressure of less than 80 mmHg.

Elevated

A higher than average blood pressure has a reading of 120 to 129 systolic and less than 80 diastolic.

Stage 1 hypertension

Stage 1 hypertension involves a systolic pressure of 130 to 139 and a diastolic pressure of 80 to 89.

Stage 2 hypertension

If you have a blood pressure of more than 140 systolic over 90 diastolic, you have stage 2 hypertension.

Hypertensive crisis

A hypertensive crisis is a severe medical issue that results from a blood pressure of over 180 systolic and 120 diastolic.

What are blood pressure safety zones?

Blood pressure safety zones are how we determine your risk of health complications related to high blood pressure. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the three blood pressure safety zones include:

Green zone

The green zone is when your blood pressure is under 140/90 and you're not experiencing any symptoms. In the green zone, your blood pressure is stable, and you should continue to take medications as we prescribe them.

It's still essential to check your blood pressure daily and eat a healthy diet low in sodium.

Yellow zone

The yellow zone is when your blood pressure progresses to 150/100, with or without symptoms. You should contact us immediately if your reading is over 150/100 and you have a headache or dizziness.

In the yellow zone, we may need to adjust your blood pressure medications, and you should maintain a healthy diet low in sodium.

Red zone

The red zone is a hypertensive crisis and involves a blood pressure of at least 180/120 with symptoms like blurry vision, a severe headache, and nausea or vomiting. You may also be in the red zone if you have dark brown urine or abdominal pain.

If you're in the red zone, you should call 911 immediately and get into the emergency room. A medical evaluation is immediately necessary to evaluate your health and kidneys.

How high is too high for kidney disease?

Keeping your blood pressure under control is the key to controlling kidney disease. Every individual is different when it comes to controlling blood pressure. Still, the general recommendation for kidney disease is to keep it under 140/90.

Keeping your blood pressure under 140/90 helps protect the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys. It keeps them working their best to filter out wastes and toxins.

However, if you have kidney disease and proteinuria, we recommend keeping your blood pressure under 130/80. It's even better to target your blood pressure to 120/80 for optimal kidney health.

A blood pressure higher than 140/90 causes more kidney damage, which leads to other symptoms and possible kidney failure without treatment. Taking appropriate medications, engaging in regular physical activity, and eating a low-sodium diet can help you achieve a target blood pressure.

To learn more about our high blood pressure treatments, call one of our conveniently located offices in Washington, D.C., and Capitol Heights, Maryland. You can also request a consultation on the website.