Which number is most important for high blood pressure?
The top number is usually most important, that’s your systolic blood pressure. Mainly that’s because people can have isolated systolic hypertension, meaning their top number is high but the bottom is not. That’s not to say that the bottom number is fine no matter what it is though… The doctor can diagnose you with hypertension if the either value is elevated. That’s just the way the guidelines are set up. There’s a rubric for what is considered “high” for diastolic and for systolic. A “high” number in either category, diastolic and/or systolic, can qualify as hypertension. You should see the doctor, that’s pretty high. Assuming those numbers are reliable, according to the JNC7 guidelines for hypertension, you have Stage 2 hypertension and should be on 2 medications to treat it. Of course only a doctor can diagnose you though–so go see one! EDIT: In that case I would still go to the doctor. They probably need to add something else on because you aren’t at goal. Goal hypertension for
