High Blood Pressure Stage 2 - The More SERIOUS High BP Range

The other day at work someone told me their blood pressure was in the high blood pressure range. I asked them which one, stage 1 or stage 2? Like most, he didn’t know there were two stages. Since stage 2 is the more serious one, let’s find out, what does high blood pressure stage 2 mean?

High blood pressure stage 2 means the systolic blood pressure number is 140 mm Hg or higher or the diastolic blood pressure number is 90 mm Hg or higher. It’s the second high blood pressure category on the BP chart.

I’ve decided to write this article covering everything you need to know about high blood pressure stage 2. I’ll explain how to know if your BP is in it, the causes are and the consequences.

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Disclaimer: Some links in this article are affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What Numbers Are Considered High Blood Pressure Stage 2

High blood pressure stage 2 numbers are a systolic number 140 mm Hg or higher or a diastolic number 90 mm Hg or higher.

It’s important to take notice of the word or between the systolic and diastolic numbers. This means only one number has to be higher, not both numbers, for the reading to be in the stage 2 range ((American Heart Association: Understanding Blood Pressure Readings)).

Therefore, if your blood pressure is 140/79 or 119/90, either reading indicates you’re in stage 2.

If the readings are consistently in this range, doctors are likely to prescribe a combination of medications and lifestyle changes. Prescribing both medications and lifestyle changes mean the BP is serious and more drastic action is necessary.

It’s important to follow the doctor’s advice because the last thing you want is for your blood pressure to stay high or get even worse. The next BP category above this is hypertensive crisis which can result in calling 911. I wrote a blog post about it right here, Hypertensive Crisis.

The Difference Between High Blood Pressure Stage 2 and Stage 1

Stage 1 and stage 2 are both high blood pressure but there are major differences between them. Therefore, how serious is high blood pressure stage 2?

High blood pressure stage 2 is more serious than stage 1 because the blood pressure numbers are higher and closer to a hypertensive crisis. In stage 2, a doctor is likely to prescribe medication instead of considering it.

The biggest difference is the blood pressure numbers and medication. In stage 1, medication is considered based on a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease. In stage 2, medication is likely¹.

In addition, with stage 2 the risks of developing consequences are increased. The consequences are listed down further in the article.

I wrote an article about Stage 2 Hypertension Treatment. It covers everything in complete detail and provides tables informing you how much you can expect BP to lower for each treatment. You can read about it in this website by searching the title, Stage 2 Hypertension Treatment.

BP Category	Systolic		Diastolic	Lifestyle Changes	Medicine
High BP Stage 1	130-139	or	80-89	Likely	Maybe
High BP Stage 2	140 +	or	90 +	Likely	Likely

High Blood Pressure Stage 2 Symptoms

High blood pressure is when the force of blood pushing against the blood vessel walls, is consistently high. Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure, and many of them don’t even know they have it. That’s why high blood pressure is often called the silent killer².

What are high blood pressure stage 2 symptoms? Typically, high blood pressure stage 2 has no symptoms until it has caused serious health issues. The best way to know if you have high blood pressure stage 2 is to have your blood pressure checked by a physician.

High Blood Pressure Stage 2 Causes

The following are high blood pressure stage 2 causes:

Obesity
Genetics
Improper nutrition
Lack of physical activity
Excess alcohol
Illegal drugs
Smoking
Obstructive sleep apnea
Diabetes
Kidney disease
Hormone problems
Pregnancy

High blood pressure stage 2 is just one of the five ranges in my BP chart article. In addition, seven other related topics and a FREE printable BP Chart is included. Visit that article here, What Is The Blood Pressure Chart?.

( Get my free Ebook which includes a breathing technique proven to lower BP 6 mmHg. Click the photo above or here for the free PDF )

High Blood Pressure Stage 2 Consequences

What consequences can high blood pressure stage 2 cause? The following are possible consequences of high blood pressure stage 2:

Stroke
Heart attack
Cardiovascular disease
Heart failure
Kidney failure or disease
Vision loss
Sexual dysfunction
Peripheral artery disease

Always follow the physician’s recommendations and do your best to manage it before it gets there².

Avoid High Blood Pressure Stage 2

The following is lifestyle changes you can you make to avoid high blood pressure, including stage 2.

A Change In Nutrition

Sugar

The most dangerous are the excess amounts of added sugars like processed corn syrup. Sugar can raise blood pressure in a number of different ways. Therefore, avoid foods loaded with sugar like soda, donuts and candy.

A study showed drinking 24 ounces of soda caused a jump in blood pressure in the hours that followed.

When it comes to lowering blood pressure the only white crystal most people hear about is salt. Many people are saying it’s time to focus attention on the other white crystal which is sugar.

Potassium and Sodium

While lowering sodium is important to lowering high blood pressure, the average person should consume no more than 1,500mg of sodium a day. This doesn’t apply to highly active people like competitive athletes or workers exposed to the heat sweating all day.

Those people are going to require a higher sodium intake. Try maintaining the potassium to sodium ratio of 4:1 which is extremely important to help lower your blood pressure³.

The 4:1 ratio is important because the kidneys help to control blood pressure by controlling the amount of fluid stored in the body. Generally, the more fluid the higher the blood pressure. The kidneys do this by filtering the blood and taking out any extra fluid.

This process uses a delicate balance of sodium and potassium to pull out the excess water. The daily recommended amount of potassium is 4,700 mg and the sodium intake should be no more than 1,500 mg. The following foods are high in potassium:

Avocado
Spinach
Black Beans
Bananas

Magnesium

Magnesium causes a calming effect on the body including the arteries and veins. This helps to prevent them from constricting which can raise blood pressure.

The Top 5 Foods High In Magnesium:

Spinach
Swiss Chard
Dark Chocolate
Pumpkin Seeds
Almonds

Always check with your physician prior to changing nutrition.

Manage Stress

Stress & Anxiety is a sure way to raise the BP numbers to High Blood Pressure Stage 2. Manage the stress with relaxation techniques which will help control the blood pressure⁴. This can include:

Meditation
Listening to music
Massages
Pressure Points
Exercise
Proper Sleep

There are different breathing exercises you can do to help relax. This breathing exercise, called belly breathing, is simple and easy to do. If you never used breathing exercises before this is a great one to start with.

First sit or lie flat in a comfortable position.
Put one hand on the belly just below the ribs and the other hand on the chest.
Take a deep breath in through the nose and let the belly push the hand out.
The chest should not move in or out.
Then breathe out through pursed lips as if whistling.
Feel the hand on the belly go in and use it to gently push the air out.
Take your time with each breath and do this 3 to 10 times.

If you’re up for a little experiment and have a home blood pressure monitor take your blood pressure before doing the exercise. Then take it again immediately after and see if there’s a difference.

Physical Activity

Get off the couch! Enjoy regular physical activity every day. Aim to get about 20-30 minutes of activity a day. Physical Activities Can Include:

Walks – Take a Nice Leisurely Stroll In The Park or Window Shop At The Mall
Join a Fitness Center – Many Offer Free Physical Training At Sign Up To Get Started
Yoga
Jogging
High or Low Intensity Cardio

Start off with something enjoyable, like taking walks or riding a bicycle. Research has shown physical activity is safe for almost everyone. Moreover, the health benefits of physical activity far outweigh the risks.

Connect with others and consider walking with a neighbor, friend or spouse. Connecting with others can keep you focused and motivated to walk more.

Above all reward yourself for all your hard work, dedication and commitment to being healthy. Set goals and pay yourself for achieving them with money, gifts or things like massages. This is a great way to stay motivated and keep you moving!

Always check with your physician prior to starting any exercise program.

Bad Habits

Avoid any of these habits. Try to eliminate or reduce them as much as possible⁵.

Excess Alcohol
Smoking
Illegal Drugs

While smoking is a proven risk factor for stroke and heart attack, its connection to high blood pressure is still being determined. However smoking increases the risk for the buildup of plaque inside the arteries — a process that high blood pressure is known to accelerate.

Every time someone smokes, it causes a temporary increase in blood pressure. Over time this can help cause damage to the arteries.

Managing High Blood Pressure Stage 2 Is A Commitment

If you have High Blood Pressure Stage 2, it’s vital you listen to your doctor. Remember you are a part of your healthcare team.

You and your doctor are partners. Educate yourself about High Blood Pressure Stage 2 and learn how to monitor your blood pressure at home. Armed with this information, you can commit to living heart healthy.

Blood Pressure Explained

High Blood Pressure Stage 2 – The MORE SERIOUS High BP Range