Hypertension is indicated when systolic pressure exceeds

• A. 120
• B. 130
• C. 140
• D. 110

Answer: (A)

Understanding hypertension thresholds starts with how blood pressure is categorized. Systolic pressure is the peak pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts. Hypertension is diagnosed only when these readings stay above the normal upper limit across multiple measurements, taken after the person has rested and with proper technique. Because a single high reading can be influenced by factors like activity, stress, or measurement error, clinicians confirm hypertension by repeating measurements on different occasions and often by averaging several readings. Hypertension carries real risks—heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, and vascular injury—so the goal is to identify persistent elevation rather than a one-time spike. In the context of the options shown, the value that clearly represents a reading well above normal is the one to flag as hypertension, while the others fall within or near the normal range.