Which of the following blood pressure readings would indicate hypertension?

The reading of 145/95 mm Hg is indicative of hypertension because it exceeds the commonly accepted threshold for elevated blood pressure. The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association classify hypertension as a systolic blood pressure of 130 mm Hg or higher, or a diastolic pressure of 80 mm Hg or higher.

In this case, the systolic pressure of 145 mm Hg is significantly above the 130 mm Hg cutoff, and the diastolic pressure of 95 mm Hg also exceeds the 80 mm Hg threshold. This combination firmly places it in the hypertensive category, signaling that the cardiovascular system is under increased pressure, which can lead to serious health concerns if not managed properly.

In contrast, other blood pressure readings provided are either within normal ranges or classified as prehypertension. For instance, a reading of 120/80 mm Hg is often considered optimal, while 130/85 mm Hg leans toward the higher end of normal or may be classified as elevated but does not reach the hypertensive criteria. Similarly, 110/70 mm Hg falls well within the normal range, indicating healthy blood pressure levels.