ARRT Patient Care Practice Exam

A patient whose systolic blood pressure is consistently greater than 140 mm Hg usually is considered:

1. hypertensive

2. hypotensive

3. average/normal

4. baseline

The correct answer is: hypertensive

A patient with a systolic blood pressure consistently greater than 140 mm Hg is typically classified as hypertensive. This classification is based on established guidelines for blood pressure readings, where hypertension is diagnosed when the systolic blood pressure is at or above 140 mm Hg or the diastolic reading is at or above 90 mm Hg. Elevated systolic readings indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and other health complications, making it crucial for clinicians to monitor and manage this condition appropriately. Understanding blood pressure categories is important for recognizing when a patient may require intervention, lifestyle modifications, or pharmacological treatment. Normal blood pressure is generally defined as less than 120/80 mm Hg, while readings between those values and the hypertensive threshold indicate elevated blood pressure. Therefore, consistently recording a systolic pressure over 140 mm Hg clearly identifies a patient as hypertensive, warranting further assessment and potential management to prevent adverse health outcomes.