Scope of this summary
The Bottom Line
- Screen adults using accurate office blood-pressure measurement.
- Confirm a new diagnosis outside the clinic with ambulatory or home monitoring before starting treatment.
- Keep screening advice and the AHA/ACC classification system visibly attributed to their separate issuing bodies.
Who to screen and suggested intervals
The USPSTF recommends screening every adult aged 18 years or older. It suggests annual screening from age 40 or when risk is increased, and screening every 3 to 5 years for adults aged 18 to 39 who are not at increased risk and have a previous normal reading.
Use a validated device and an appropriate cuff. Repeat measurements rather than acting on one opportunistic value.
Safety and confirmation before treatment
- Use ambulatory blood-pressure monitoring when feasible, or structured home blood-pressure monitoring.
- Use validated and accurate devices in a representative setting outside the clinic.
- Consider white-coat and masked patterns when office and out-of-office measurements differ.
- Treat symptoms or a possible hypertensive emergency as an acute clinical assessment, not a routine screening workflow.
AHA/ACC 2025 office blood-pressure classification
- Normal: systolic <120 mm Hg and diastolic <80 mm Hg.
- Elevated: systolic 120–129 mm Hg and diastolic <80 mm Hg.
- Stage 1 hypertension: systolic 130–139 mm Hg or diastolic 80–89 mm Hg.
- Stage 2 hypertension: systolic ≥140 mm Hg or diastolic ≥90 mm Hg.
Cardiovascular risk, comorbidity, repeated measurement and patient context remain relevant.
Applying the sources at the point of care
Source documents
Use the linked source documents for complete recommendations, evidence grading, exclusions and implementation detail.
- U.S. Preventive Services Task ForceHypertension in Adults: ScreeningFinal Recommendation Statement · Grade A · published 2021-04-27 · accessed 2026-08-20view source
- American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines2025 AHA/ACC/AANP/AAPA/ABC/ACCP/ACPM/AGS/AMA/ASPC/NMA/PCNA/SGIM Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice GuidelinesDOI 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001356 · version incorporating published corrections through 2026-05-26 · published 2025-08-14 · updated 2026-05-26 · accessed 2026-08-20view source
From guidance to deliberate practice and evidence
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