Blood Pressure 99/88 MmHg: What Does It Indicate? | TheEMTSpot (2024)

Michael Rotman, MD, FRCPC, PhD | Medically reviewed by Robin Backlund, BHSc
Last update: March 29, 2024

What does a 99/88 blood pressure mean?

The numbers in that blood pressure reading, let’s call it 99/88, are signaling a pretty clear message: you’re cruising into the territory of prehypertension or elevated blood pressure.

Now, prehypertension is essentially the stage where your blood pressure is hanging out in the range of 120-139 over 80-89.

Here is a blood pressure chart according to the latest guidelines of American Heart Association (AHA).

Here’s the deal with this 99/88 reading – it’s basically waving a red flag, telling you that if you don’t start playing it smart, you’re setting yourself up for some serious heart issues and high blood pressure down the road.

A report “Prehypertension–prevalence, health risks, and management strategies” from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine published in 2015 highlights that 25-50% of adults worldwide suffer from prehypertension.

So, why should you care? Well, that’s where the rubber meets the road. You really want to make an effort to keep your blood pressure in check because it’s your ticket to avoiding future health complications.

Now, the good news is there are steps you can take and lifestyle tweaks you can make to bring that blood pressure back into the safe zone. It’s not rocket science, but it does require some commitment.

So, buckle up and get ready to take charge of your health – your heart will thank you later! Here are certain symptoms that are associated with the problem of prehypertension.

• Laziness and drowsiness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fainting and headache
• Lack of mental comprehension
• Trouble concentrating
• Weight gain
• Red spots in the eyes

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What should you do if you have 99/88 mmHg blood pressure?

Here is a set-by-step procedure to follow when you figure out you have a blood pressure of 99/88 mmHg.

1. Verify blood pressure with a doctor
2. Regulate your blood pressure with healthy habits
3. Consider using blood pressure medications
4. Craft a balanced blood pressure-friendly diet
5. Be aware of additional health risks linked to pre-hypertension
6. Support with natural supplements

1. Verify blood pressure with a doctor

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A trained professional has to clinically assess your condition and confirm that your 99/88 is, in fact, clinically valid.

There are instances when your reading at home setup might give you a reading which is incorrectly reported. It could be because of an error in reading it, damage to your device, your physical or mental condition on that particular day, etc.

Therefore, a doctor has to assess it over the course of 7 – 30 days periodically before he/she can confirm the accurate stage of your blood pressure.

In a study “Masked and white coat hypertension, the double trouble of large arteries: A systematic review and meta‐analysis” from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, published in 2020 in The Journal of Clinical Hypertension, Christina Antza and his team found something interesting about blood pressure readings.

Sometimes, when people are at the doctor’s office, their blood pressure reads high, but it’s normal when they check it elsewhere. They call this white coat hypertension.

On the flip side, some folks show normal readings at the doctor’s but have high readings at home or other places. This is known as masked hypertension

All these conditions are linked to physiology and psychology and, therefore, better to be validated by a doctor.

2.Regulate your blood pressure with healthy habits

Making definite changes in your lifestyle is sufficient to bring your blood pressure back in control or within the ideal range of blood pressure. These changes will be good enough to change your blood pressure to a better degree.

Following are the things that are to be considered when thinking of opting for a new lifestyle for yourself:

According to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (CDC) guidelines, below are a few steps that you can incorporate to prevent prehypertension from affecting your life.

• Try getting adequate rest every day.
• Reduce the consumption of sodium salts.
• Support a healthy diet and exercise daily.
• Try to maintain a healthy weight.
• Quit smoking and drinking, or at least keep it in check.
• Manage your stress and anxiety.

3.Consider using blood pressure medications

Prehypertension can result from any medical condition or history of medical problems. Therefore, it is good to consider using medicines and prescribed drugs to keep your blood pressure in check.

A study “Treatment of prehypertension: lifestyle and/or medication. Vascular health and risk management” from Appalachian State University published in 2012 suggests that prehypertension should be addressed with non-therapeutic approaches before resorting to medication. However, individuals with chronic kidney disease, diabetes, or preexisting medical conditions might need to rely on medicines.

Following are the medicines that are prescribed to individuals who are suffering from prehypertension.

• Water Pills: these are the medicines that control the amount of sodium that is mixed in with our bloodstream. By keeping it in check, it is possible to lower blood pressure rather significantly.
• Calcium Channel Blockers: these are the chemicals that block or restrict the intermixing of calcium minerals in the bloodstream. Calcium leads to the contraction of blood vessels.
• Renin Inhibitors: Renin inhibitors are the drugs that regulate the hormones and chemicals that are released by the kidneys, which leads to an increase in blood pressure.
• Beta Blockers: these are the medicines that help in regulate the heart bests. These help in slowing down the heart rate, which in turn leads to lower pressure over the heart walls and the blood vessels.
• Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors: these are the chemicals that stop or restrict the formation of the compounds in the body that lead to the contraction of the blood vessels.

4.Craft a balanced blood pressure-friendly diet

The kind of foods that you include in your everyday diet can make a good-enough difference in your blood pressure.

Therefore, if you were to keep your eating habits in check and behave well-disciplined regarding that, you will surely be able to maintain your blood pressure accordingly.

Following are some of the points that concern your diet which should be taken into consideration.

• Sodium intake: Sodium is a mineral that leads to an elevated level of blood pressure, which causes the problem of prehypertension.
• Caffeine: most the caffeine-products are known to increase blood pressure in individuals. If you are sensitive towards the usage of caffeine products, it will be good for you to give up on those entirely.
• Keep yourself hydrated: maintain the level of liquids and body fluids that are necessary for the transport of minerals and nutrients in your body.
• Sugar: Large consumption of sugar can lead to the problem of diabetes and, by extension, the issue of high blood pressure.
• Alcohol: To a certain extent, alcohol acts as a vasodilator. This will help in the relaxation of your blood vessels, which in turn will help maintain your blood pressure.
• Potassium salts: Instead of using sodium salts that lead to an increase in blood pressure, turn towards the usage of other salts.

5. Be aware of additional health risks linked to pre-hypertension

When you are diagnosed with prehypertension, you may want to keep track of a few other comorbidities because they can either get aggravated or initiated.

A study “Prehypertension: epidemiology, consequences and treatment” published in Nature Reviews Nephrology in 2009 observed that prehypertension increases the risks of comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and inflammatory disorders.

Your doctor may also prescribe certain medical checkups to rule out the possibility of damage to other organs. The following are the risks most likely to be associated with hypertension.

• History of heart problems.
• Genetic hypertension.
• Diabetes.
• Improper functioning of the kidney and pancreas.
• Not following a proper diet plan.
• Increased intake of sodium salts.

6. Support with natural supplements

Sometimes, managing blood pressure boils down to nourishing your body with the right diet. Undoubtedly, food is the best primary source for supplementation.

However, in today’s world, our food is often adulterated, and we gravitate towards processed foods due to our fast-paced lives. These processed foods are high in sugar and sodium, lacking essential nutrients crucial for a healthy heart.

This is where nutraceutical-based blood pressure supplements come in handy. These products amalgamate all the critical nutrients your heart craves, thereby promoting better cardiovascular function.

Typically, these supplements blend herbs, plant-based ingredients, dairy, and some animal products. They are 100% organic and natural, devoid of harmful chemicals.

A study “Nutraceuticals with a clinically detectable blood pressure-lowering effect: a review of available randomized clinical trials and their meta-analyses” in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology from 2017 suggests that nutraceutical ingredients such as potassium, magnesium, L-arginine, vitamin C, cocoa flavonoids, and beetroot juice can significantly impact blood pressure.

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Just remember to carefully choose the best supplements that lower blood pressure because when it comes to your heart, there’s no room for risks.

Prehypertension isn’t a condition to take lightly. It may not warrant serious medication, but that can change swiftly.

Therefore, it’s wise to explore your best options.

Consult a physiotherapist before considering medication to make informed choices about your health.

What should you do when your blood pressure is 99/88 mmHg during pregnancy?

If your blood pressure is 99/88 during pregnancy, this falls into the range of elevated or prehypertension.

A group of Swedish scientists from Uppsala University found in their study “Prehypertension in Pregnancy and Risks of Small for Gestational Age Infant and Stillbirth” from 2016, published on Hypertension Journal, a link between prehypertension in mothers and its effect on small-for-gestational-age infants or stillbirth.

While it may not be an immediate emergency, it does warrant careful monitoring and discussion with your healthcare provider.

Elevated blood pressure can increase the risk of complications like preeclampsia during pregnancy. Your doctor may suggest lifestyle modifications or closer monitoring.

Is blood pressure 99/88 mmHg high for a male?

For men, a blood pressure of 99/88 mmHg is considered elevated or in the prehypertension stage.

While it’s not yet in the hypertension range, it indicates that you’re at higher risk of developing high blood pressure in the future.

Lifestyle changes and regular monitoring are generally recommended at this stage.

Is blood pressure 99/88 mmHg high for a female?

For women, a blood pressure reading of 99/88 is in the elevated or prehypertension range.

Although it’s not an immediate concern, it does indicate an increased risk for hypertension down the line.

Lifestyle changes and ongoing monitoring are generally the course of action at this point.

Is blood pressure 99/88 mmHg high for an elderly?

In the elderly, a blood pressure of 99/88 mmHg might be seen as slightly elevated or prehypertensive.

It’s not an immediate concern, but it’s a signal that blood pressure levels should be monitored more closely.

Lifestyle changes, and possibly medication, might be recommended based on the individual’s medical history.

Is blood pressure 99/88 mmHg high for a children?

For children, blood pressure readings are generally assessed based on age, height, and gender percentiles.

A group of researchers from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s Hospital found in a study “Prehypertension in adolescents: risk and progression” published in Journal of Clinical Hypertension in 2012 that prehypertension is common in adolescents and poses a risk for future hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

A reading of 99/88 could be elevated depending on the specific percentile for the child’s age and height.

Consult a pediatrician for an accurate assessment and recommendations for monitoring or treatment.

Is blood pressure 99/88 mmHg high for an adult?

For an adult, a blood pressure of 99/88 mm Hg falls into the elevated or prehypertension category.

This means that you’re at a greater risk for developing hypertension in the future.

Typically, lifestyle modifications like healthier diet and increased exercise are recommended, along with regular monitoring.