You visit your doctor for your annual checkup. You feel fine and aren’t worried about your health at all.
But your doctor tells you that you have hypertension, or high blood pressure. She says it’s a serious condition and that you need to consider some lifestyle changes, and perhaps begin taking medication. You feel fine, though!
The experts at all three locations of Apex Medical Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, see patients who are surprised to learn that they have high blood pressure. We are always happy to answer your questions in person, and hope that this post helps you understand why hypertension is dangerous, even when you feel okay.
The guidelines that doctors use to determine whether you have hypertension or not are regularly reviewed and updated as new research emerges. One such update occurred in 2025, aimed at preventing high blood pressure, detecting it earlier, and managing it.
When your blood pressure is measured, the result is two numbers: your systolic and diastolic blood pressure, usually read as one number “over” another. For example, your blood pressure may be 90 (systolic) over 60, which is in the healthy range. Here are the ranges:
Category systolic diastolic
Normal less than 120 and less than 80
Elevated 120-129 and less than 80
Stage 1 hypertension 130-139 or 80-89
Stage 2 hypertension 140 or higher or 90 or higher
Severe hypertension higher than 180 and/or higher than 120
Hypertensive emergency higher than 180 and/or higher than 120
Those measurements describe the pressure of your blood against your artery walls, both when your heart is contracted (systolic, or the top number) and between contractions (diastolic, or the bottom number. High blood pressure indicates that your arteries may be narrowed, or you may have some other problem that makes it harder for your blood to travel efficiently through your blood vessels.
Many different factors contribute to your risk of developing high blood pressure. You can change some of them, and some you can’t.
These are things you can’t change, but that can make it more likely you will develop hypertension.
Your habits can make it more or less likely that you develop high blood pressure. These are things you can change:
One of the changes to the updated guidelines for providers advising patients about blood pressure involves when to suggest lifestyle modifications and when to suggest medications. If you have a low risk of cardiovascular disease and your blood pressure is 130-139 over 80-89, your doctor is likely to suggest you modify your lifestyle for three to six months, then have your blood pressure checked again. If it’s still not in the normal range, you may need to begin taking medication.
It’s important to understand that so many different factors affect your risk of hypertension that you need personal guidance from a highly qualified provider, such as those at Apex Medical Center. We discuss your lifestyle, habits, family history, and overall health with you before making suggestions about how to manage your blood pressure.
Don’t count on having symptoms if your blood pressure is too high. It’s possible to go for years with dangerously high blood pressure and never realize it. Schedule your appointment today and discuss your risk with your provider.
