Is a blood pressure reading of 161 mmHg systolic and 101 mmHg diastolic dangerous?
Recently, when I had my blood pressure measured at the hospital, I found that my systolic pressure was 161 and my diastolic pressure was 101. I would like to ask, is a blood pressure reading of 161 systolic and 101 diastolic dangerous?
Doctor's answer (1)
A blood pressure reading of 161 mmHg for the systolic (the upper number) and 101 mmHg for the diastolic (the lower number) falls within a dangerous blood pressure range.
When systolic blood pressure reaches 140 mmHg or higher, or diastolic blood pressure reaches 90 mmHg or higher, it is considered hypertension. Prolonged maintenance of such blood pressure levels places significant strain on the cardiovascular system and greatly increases the risk of developing serious complications, including cerebral hemorrhage, myocardial hypertrophy, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and others.
In addition, long-term maintenance of such blood pressure can cause irreversible damage to vital organs such as the kidneys and retina, manifesting as acute or chronic renal insufficiency, retinal detachment, and retinal hemorrhage, among other ocular complications.
Patients are advised to seek timely medical attention. Furthermore, developing and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits is also crucial for controlling blood pressure. This includes, but is not limited to, regularly engaging in moderate physical activity, maintaining a balanced and nutritionally rich diet, strictly limiting salt intake, quitting smoking, and restricting alcohol consumption.
