What a Blood Pressure of 167/93 Means and How to Treat Stage 2 Hypertension

Understanding What a Blood Pressure Reading of 167/93 Means

Blood pressure is an important vital health sign that can provide insight into the status of your cardiovascular health. The numbers 167/93 refer to a specific blood pressure reading, with 167 being the systolic pressure and 93 being the diastolic pressure.

But what do these numbers really mean, and how serious is a reading of 167/93? Let's take a closer look at what your blood pressure readings signify and how a measurement of 167/93 would be classified.

How Blood Pressure Readings Work

Blood pressure is a measurement of the force your blood exerts on your artery walls as it flows through your circulatory system. It is recorded using two numbers:

• Systolic pressure - The pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts and pushes blood out into circulation.
• Diastolic pressure - The pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes between beats and refills with blood.

These two values are measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). So a reading of 167/93 tells us the systolic pressure is 167 mmHg and the diastolic is 93 mmHg.

Blood Pressure Classifications

To interpret any blood pressure reading, it helps to understand the standard blood pressure ranges:

• Normal: Less than 120/80 mmHg
• Elevated: 120-129/Less than 80 mmHg
• Hypertension Stage 1: 130-139/80-89 mmHg
• Hypertension Stage 2: 140/90 mmHg or higher
• Hypertensive Crisis: Higher than 180/Higher than 120 mmHg

Based on these categories, a reading of 167/93 would fall under Stage 2 Hypertension. This is considered a more serious elevation of blood pressure.

How Serious is a Blood Pressure of 167/93?

Now that we've identified a blood pressure of 167/93 as Stage 2 Hypertension, how concerned should we be about these numbers?

Risks of Elevated Blood Pressure

Sustained high blood pressure, also called hypertension, puts stress on your blood vessels, heart, brain, eyes, and kidneys. Some of the complications it can contribute to over time include:

• Heart attack or stroke
• Kidney disease or failure
• Memory and cognitive decline
• Vision loss
• Sexual dysfunction

Therefore, the higher your blood pressure and the longer it stays elevated, the higher your risk for these serious conditions.

Dangers of Stage 2 Hypertension

The risk of problems steadily increases as you progress from normal blood pressure to prehypertension to hypertension stage 1 and finally stage 2. At 167/93 mmHg, here is what you can expect:

• Double the risk of heart disease compared to those with normal blood pressure
• Four times higher risk of stroke
• Seven times more likely to experience heart failure
• Higher chance of bleeding and blood clots
• Increased likelihood of respiratory disorders

Clearly, a reading in the Stage 2 range signals the need for prompt attention and hypertension treatment.

Risk Factors to Consider

Some additional factors that can increase concern about a high 167/93 mmHg reading include:

• Age over 60 years old
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Smoking
• High cholesterol
• Family history of hypertension

The more risk factors you have, the more aggressively you may need to work to lower your blood pressure.

Treatment for a Blood Pressure of 167/93

If you have a reading in the Stage 2 hypertension range, your doctor will likely want to start lifestyle changes and medication to lower your blood pressure. Treatment guidelines recommend:

Medication

Most people with a top number (systolic) of 160 or higher will need blood pressure medication. Options may include:

• Diuretics - Help reduce fluid volume to lower blood pressure.
• ACE inhibitors - Relax blood vessels to improve blood flow.
• ARBs - Block angiotensin receptors to relax blood vessels.
• Calcium channel blockers - Prevent calcium from entering heart and blood vessel cells to relax them.
• Beta blockers - Reduce how hard the heart works to pump blood.

Your doctor will prescribe the right medication or combination of medications based on your medical history and profile.

Lifestyle Changes

Medication alone often isn't enough. You will also be advised to make healthy lifestyle modifications such as:

• Losing weight if overweight
• Exercising regularly - 30+ minutes most days of the week
• Eating a heart-healthy diet like the Mediterranean diet
• Reducing sodium intake
• Limiting alcohol to 1 drink per day maximum for women, 2 for men
• Quitting smoking and vaping
• Trying stress-reducing techniques like meditation, yoga, etc.

Implementing these changes can help enhance the effectiveness of medications.

Monitoring and Follow-Up

Your treatment plan will also include frequent blood pressure monitoring, either at home or with your doctor. This helps determine if your medication regimen needs adjustment. Follow up visits will be scheduled to evaluate your progress.

When to Seek Emergency Treatment

While a reading of 167/93 generally won't require emergency care on its own, you should seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following:

• Chest pain
• Severe headache
• Shortness of breath
• Changes in vision
• Dizziness or fainting
• Confusion

These can signal a hypertensive crisis and significantly increase your risk of problems like a heart attack or stroke. So do not hesitate to call 911 or go to an emergency room if these symptoms accompany severely elevated blood pressure.

The Bottom Line

A blood pressure reading of 167/93 mmHg falls into the Stage 2 hypertension category. This level of high blood pressure starts to substantially increase your chance of issues like heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and more. It requires prompt medical treatment through lifestyle changes and medication to bring your numbers down and reduce your health risks.

While an isolated reading of 167/93 may not constitute a crisis, it does signify an ongoing problem that needs active management. Work closely with your doctor on medications and lifestyle changes until your blood pressure improves to a safer level.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.