Blood Pressure

How does the Blood Pressure Chart work?

To incorporate this resource into your practice, follow these steps:

Step 1: Get a copy of our template

Click the “Download Template” or “Use Template” button, or search “ Blood Pressure Chart” on Carepatron's template library search bar on the website or app.

Step 2: Collate essential information

Fill out all essential patient information, including any relevant medical history that may impact the parameters. Age and lifestyle factors, such as smoking and exercise, should be indicated. Make sure to fill out the columns for diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure, including the date they were taken.

After conducting the blood pressure test, analyze the systolic pressure over the diastolic pressure against the recommended parameters to determine what category the patient falls under and if there is any change or need for intervention.

Step 3: Store the template securely

After reviewing the results, you need to secure the Blood Pressure Chart so that access is only granted to relevant parties. As blood pressure is a commonly recorded result, easy access to the blood pressure chart, both by medical practitioners and patients, is essential.

Ensure this through Carepatrons' HIPAA-compliant free patient records software. Here, all relevant medical records can be safely stored and collated for ease and security.

When would you use this chart?

A Blood Pressure Chart is a well-utilized tool used in a variety of healthcare settings by both medical practitioners and patients for various reasons, some of which are outlined below:

Routine health checks and monitoring

Blood Pressure Charts are a key aspect of regular health checks. People can even check their blood pressure at home once they have been educated on how to take and record their blood pressure measurements. This is common and encouraged for patients with high blood pressure (hypertension) or those at risk of developing high blood pressure.

Medical check-ups

Medical professionals utilize a Blood Pressure Chart during the routine recording of check-ups to assess the individual's cardiovascular health. This easy tool is a valuable way of finding underlying issues such as hyper- or hypotension and leads to further diagnosis should the patient display abnormal results for their appropriate age parameters.

Diagnosis and treatment

The utilization of Blood Pressure Chart is key in the diagnosis and management of conditions like hypertension. The chart can be used to help determine an appropriate treatment plan to help them maintain an ideal blood pressure measurement, and the measurements can be kept and regularly checked to monitor the intervention's effectiveness.

Preventative care

Continuous and regular charting of an individual's blood pressure measurements acts as a preventative measure that indicates the need for change before life-threatening conditions such as heart disease or stroke become an issue.

Potential readings

Blood pressure ranges vary between institutions yet are commonly divided into five key sections as outlined by the American Heart Association (2024), based on blood pressure checked:

• Normal range: Blood pressure numbers below 120/80 mm Hg are considered normal. If results fall within this range, suggested lifestyle changes include maintaining heart-healthy habits, including a balanced diet and regular exercise.

• Elevated: Elevated blood pressure is indicated through measures consistently ranging from 120-129 systolic and less than 80 mm Hg diastolic. Without intervention, individuals with elevated blood pressure are at risk of developing hypertension.

• Hypertension, stage 1: Hypertension Stage 1 is characterized by blood pressure consistently ranging from 130 to 139 systolic or 80 to 89 mm Hg diastolic. At this stage, healthcare professionals are likely to recommend lifestyle changes and may consider prescribing blood pressure medication based on your risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

• Hypertension, stage 2: Hypertension Stage 2 occurs when blood pressure consistently reads 140/90 mm Hg or higher. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to prescribe a combination of blood pressure medications and lifestyle changes at this stage.

• Hypertension crisis: A hypertensive crisis demands immediate medical attention. If blood pressure readings exceed 180/120 mm Hg, wait five minutes, then retest. If the readings remain high, contact your healthcare professional promptly. 

As stated by Booth (2024), symptoms of high blood pressure don’t typically present themselves until measures get abnormally high, and by this stage, organs are already suffering irreversible damage. In the cases of extreme hypertension, some patients have reportedly suffered from headaches, shortness of breath, nosebleeds, dizziness, chest pain, and visual changes (Goodhart, 2016).

When blood pressure is higher than 180/120 mm Hg and signs of organ damage are present, such as chest pain, back pain, shortness of breath, any numbness or weakness, vision changes, or difficulty speaking, providing medical assistance to the patient is immediately required.

References

American Heart Association. (2024, May 17). Understanding blood pressure readings. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings

Booth, J. (2024, January 11). Normal blood pressure by Age and Gender (Chart). Forbes Health. https://www.forbes.com/health/blood-pressure/normal-blood-pressure-chart-by-age/#footnote_4

Goodhart, A. K. (2016). Hypertension from the patient’s perspective. British Journal of General Practice, 66(652), 570. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp16x687757