Define stage 1 hypertension.

• A. 120-129 and <80 mmHg
• B. 130-139 or 80-89 mmHg
• C. 140-159 or 90-99 mmHg
• D. 160 or higher

Answer: (B)

Stage 1 hypertension is defined as a blood pressure in the range of 130–139 systolic or 80–89 diastolic on repeated measurements. This threshold comes from guidelines that split hypertension into stages, with stage 2 beginning at 140–159 systolic or 90–99 diastolic (and higher values still count as stage 2). The key idea is that values in the 130–139/80–89 range signal hypertension that warrants risk assessment and possible treatment based on overall cardiovascular risk, rather than treating merely a single high reading. By comparison, readings in the 120–129 systolic range with diastolic <80 are considered elevated, not hypertension, and readings of 140–159 or 90–99, or higher, fit stage 2. So the option describing 130–139 or 80–89 best defines stage 1 hypertension.