A blood pressure reading of 155/95 mmHg would be categorized as what?

• A. Normal BP
• B. Prehypertension
• C. Hypertension
• D. Obesity

Answer: (C)

Blood pressure classifications are based on both numbers: systolic (pressure during heartbeats) and diastolic (pressure between beats). A reading of 155/95 means the systolic value is well above 140 and the diastolic value is above 90. That places the reading in the hypertension range, typically categorized as stage 2 hypertension under many guidelines. A single high measurement can indicate high blood pressure, but doctors usually confirm with several readings on different occasions to establish a persistent pattern. Obesity isn’t a blood pressure category itself; it’s a risk factor that can contribute to high BP, but the classification here is about the BP numbers.