Measuring blood pressure is highly important in standard medical practice. High blood pressure poses a major risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. This is why the WHO developed a standardized chart for blood pressure in the 1950s. The charts were designed to use data from healthy subjects from multiple countries to establish normal blood pressure ranges dependent on certain factors such as age group and gender.
They were formulated to assist healthcare providers with diagnosing high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) and managing it. A chart can thus be utilized by a general practitioner, nurse, primary care physician, pharmacist, and health coach.
This article defines a chart for blood pressure, its importance, components, and types. It also differentiates the chart from a log and its limitations.
What is a Blood Pressure Chart?
A chart is a tabular presentation of blood pressure readings, how they differ across different groups of people, and their inference.
The readings will typically fall under 5 categories – low, normal, elevated, hypertension (stage 1), hypertension (stage 2), and hypertensive crisis. Each reading is recorded in mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). The chart is used for reference after measuring a patient’s blood pressure to monitor and track changes over time. This information can then be used for diagnosis or decision-making to determine the effectiveness of treatment, especially when managing hypertension.
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Importance of Using a Blood Pressure Chart
As a healthcare professional, you will interact with the chart regularly. It can be used in the following four stages of medical intervention:
Diagnosis
A blood pressure chart provides categories for blood pressure ranges. It is thus principally used to determine whether a patient’s blood pressure is within the normal range of their category. Depending on the initial reading, you can then determine if further evaluations are needed.
Treatment and management
The chart is used to track and monitor a person’s blood pressure variations over time. This is because the diagnosis of hypertension requires multiple elevated readings over time, following proper measurement techniques, and considering other factors such as medical history and risk assessment. This information is then used to develop medical intervention plans to treat and manage patients should they be diagnosed with hypertension. The plans ought to be personalized to suit the patient based on their age, sex, and height, which are factors that influence blood pressure.
Monitoring progress
After formulating a treatment plan, the chart can be used to monitor the patient’s blood pressure over time to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. Blood pressure should be measured regularly, and the readings should be compared to the chart to determine when the set goals are achieved. This information helps to decide whether adjustments or additional or new interventions are needed to maintain healthy blood pressure levels.
Communication and education
The chart can be used to educate patients on the need to actively manage their health to avoid blood pressure-level-related conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and fainting. Additionally, it is a standardized chart that makes it easy to teach patients about the implication of different blood pressure ranges and the significance of blood pressure control. Lastly, the chart is a visual tool that makes it easy to relay information to patients and encourages them to be proactively involved in managing their blood pressure levels.
note
For the chart to be beneficial, you must get accurate blood pressure readings from the patient. Inaccurate readings may lead to incorrect diagnoses and treatment plans or a false sense of security.
Basic Components of Blood Pressure Chart
A chart is a standardized tool that will have consistent components based on information collected by blood pressure measuring monitors. It is important to understand each component to ensure the chart can be accurately interpreted.
The major components of the chart include the following:
Blood Pressure Ranges
Readings on the blood pressure monitor are divided into two – the first number (systolic BP) and the second number (diastolic BP). These two readings infer blood pressure as follows:
- Systolic (SBP) – This is the pressure being exerted against the artery walls by the blood as the heart beats.
- Diastolic (DBP) – This is the pressure blood exerts against the artery walls when the heart is resting in between beats.
Blood Pressure Categories
Blood pressure is categorized into 5 major categories. Each category will have readings of different ranges of less than, between, or above a specified number. Each category is associated with certain health risks, as discussed below:
Normal
This category includes all readings of less than 120/80 mm Hg. This is considered normal blood pressure (BP). Patients with readings within this category should be advised to maintain their heart-healthy habits, which may include a healthy lifestyle, dieting, and exercising.
Elevated
The elevated category includes readings between 120 – 129 mm Hg (systolic) and below 80 mm Hg (diastolic). Patients under this category are considered to be at a higher risk of high BP. Therefore, they are recommended to adopt healthy practices as a preventative intervention.
Hypertension stage 1
Readings under this category fall within 130-139 mm Hg (systolic) or 80-89 mm Hg (diastolic). These readings indicate stage 1 of high blood pressure (hypertension). Recommendations at this stage include adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle and prescribing BP medications if the patient is at risk of ASCVD (atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases) such as heart attack and stroke.
Hypertension stage 2
Stage 2 of high blood pressure includes readings at 140/90 mm Hg or above. Recommendations at this stage include BP medications such as diuretics, calcium channel and beta blockers, and lifestyle changes. Risk factors that can be modifiable include physical inactivity, poor diet, tobacco smoking, alcohol intake, and overweight or obesity.
Hypertensive crisis
This category includes readings above 180/120 mm Hg. At this stage, emergency medical intervention is necessary. However, it is always advisable to re-measure the patient’s BP after 5 minutes to be certain.
Hypotension
Hypotension is characterized by blood pressure levels that are consistently below 90 mmHg. This can result from heart problems, medication side effects, dehydration, or endocrine disorders. Moreover, it may cause fatigue, dizziness, and fainting. It is managed by combining lifestyle changes, medications, and treatment of underlying conditions.
Blood Pressure Levels for Different Age Groups
The chart also illustrates normal BP readings across different ages and genders. Below is a discussion of how these readings vary from one group to another:
Children’s blood pressure levels
This section is subdivided into rows and columns highlighting different factors, including age, height, and sex of the child. The chart shows how blood pressure in children varies based on these factors. For example, BP reading below the 90th percentile for children aged 12 or younger is considered to be normal. Additionally, normal BP in children aged 13 and above falls under the normal range of BP in adults below 120/80 mm Hg.
Adults’ blood pressure readings
Another chart for adults is included. This chart incorporates sex and age as a factor of normal blood pressure. So, while the normal BP is considered to be below 120/80 mm Hg, it can vary by age and sex. For example, normal BP for a male aged 21-25 is 120.5 SBP and 78.5 DBP, while that of a female aged 21-25 is 115.5 SBP and 70.5 DBP.
Older adults’ blood pressure levels
The other category of people included in the chart is older adults. The chart enlists adults of all ages to show how blood pressure varies over the years. Many older adults will have 130 mm Hg or higher SBP and below 80 mm Hg DBP. This results in a condition called isolated systolic hypertension which is characterized by shortness of breath, dizziness, and falling if untreated.
Color-Coded Indicators
The chart uses color to indicate different blood pressure levels. Color coding is meant to make the chart more efficient such that you can identify where a patient’s BP readings fall quickly. For example, green can is used to indicate normal BP, while red signifies abnormal readings that may require medical intervention.
Recommendations
The last component captures the respective actions that ought to be taken by the patient based on the type of BP reading observed. These may include recommended diet, lifestyle changes, activities, and follow-up appointments. The recommendations differ across the different categories of patients as they are reliant on BP readings, age, gender, and medical history.
Types of Blood Pressure Charts
Charts for blood pressure can vary depending on use and context. As a result, you may have to use multiple types of charts in different circumstances.
These include:
Adult type
This chart is specifically meant for monitoring blood pressure in adults. It is the most common type of chart. The adults will further be categorized by age, gender, and health status.
Pediatric chart
A pediatric blood pressure chart targets children and adolescents. It shows blood pressure variations across children of different ages while taking into consideration other factors such as gender and height.
Pregnancy BP chart
This type of chart indicates the recommended blood pressure ranges during pregnancy. It is further subdivided into trimesters. It is highly important as high blood pressure is an early indicator of pregnancy complications.
Difference Between Blood Pressure Chart and Log
A chart, as aforementioned, tabulates the expected blood pressure levels for different groups of people with specific qualities such as age, gender, height, and health status. It is thus primarily a reference tool for interpreting BP readings. Contrary, a log is a record of blood pressure readings over time. It indicates the date, time, reading (systolic and diabolic), and key information that may affect readings, such as physical activity, stressful events, and medication changes. The log is used to track BP variations and identify changes and patterns in a patient’s blood pressure levels.
Final Thoughts
A blood pressure chart is in tabular format, with rows and columns indicating the different factors that include blood pressure, including age, gender, height, and medical history. It is used to interpret blood pressure readings determined by a monitoring device or calculator. This is highly important to understand what the readings mean in terms of the patient’s heart health and other associated conditions such as strokes. This information is then used as a basis for diagnosing and treating patients. The chart may also recommend actions patients must undertake to improve their heart health. Lastly, note that blood pressure can be measured at any medical facility or home as long as it is done correctly. As a result, a chart for blood pressure can be useful to you and your patients.
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