Physical Exam for High Blood Pressure

Exam Overview

A physical exam for high blood pressure also includes a medical history. The extent of the physical exam and the level of detail in your doctor's questions depend on how high your blood pressure is and whether you have other risk factors for heart disease. People who have many risk factors may have a more detailed evaluation.

The physical exam and medical history includes:

  • Your medical history, to evaluate risk factors such as smoking or family history of high blood pressure.
  • Two or more blood pressure measurements. Measurements may be taken from both the left and right arms and legs and may be taken in more than one position, such as lying down, standing, or sitting. Multiple measurements may be taken and averaged.
  • Measurement of your weight, height, and waist.
  • An exam of the retina, the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye.
  • A heart exam.
  • An exam of your legs for fluid buildup (edema), and the pulse in several areas, including the neck.
  • An exam of your abdomen using a stethoscope. A doctor will listen to the blood vessels in the abdomen for abnormal sounds. These sounds may be caused by blood flow through a narrowed artery in the abdomen (abdominal bruits).
  • An exam of your neck for an enlarged thyroid , distended neck veins, and bruits in the carotid arteries .

Why It Is Done

The physical exam and medical history are done to:

Results

Blood pressure categories for adults footnote 1
Blood pressure category First number (systolic) Second number (diastolic)
Ideal Less than 120 AND Less than 80
Elevated 120 to 129 AND Less than 80
High blood pressure (hypertension)-Stage 1 130 to 139 OR 80 to 89
High blood pressure (hypertension)-Stage 2 140 or more OR 90 or more

Making sure that blood pressure is actually high

After measuring your blood pressure, your doctor may ask you to test it again when you are home. footnote 2, footnote 1 This is because your blood pressure can change throughout the day. And sometimes blood pressure is high only because you are seeing a doctor. This is called white-coat hypertension . To diagnose high blood pressure, your doctor needs to know if your blood pressure is high throughout the day.

So your doctor may ask you to monitor your blood pressure at home to make sure that it actually is high. You may get an ambulatory blood pressure monitor or a home blood pressure monitor. These devices measure your blood pressure several times throughout the day.

Other results

Your doctor might check for signs that high blood pressure has already caused damage to your blood vessels, heart, or eyes. Your doctor might check for:

  • Extra heart sounds caused by enlargement of the heart.
  • Swollen (distended) neck veins, which may point to possible heart failure.
  • Abnormal sounds when the doctor listens to the blood vessels in the abdomen using a stethoscope. These sounds may be caused by blood flow through a narrowed artery in the abdomen (abdominal bruits) or a narrowed artery leading to the kidney (renal artery stenosis) or by abnormal movement of blood through the aorta, the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
  • Abnormal sound of blood flow (bruit) or diminished or absent blood flow (pulses) in the blood vessels of the arms and legs.
  • Abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen or legs (edema).
  • Abnormalities of the blood vessels in the back of the eye.

What To Think About

High blood pressure means the top number is 130 or higher or the bottom number is 80 or higher, or both.

Complete the medical test information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you prepare for this test.

Related Information

References

Citations

  1. Whelton PK, et al. (2017). 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, published online November 13, 2017. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2017.11.006. Accessed November 20, 2017.
  2. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2015). Hypertension in Adults: Screening and Home Monitoring: Final Recommendation Statement. http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/RecommendationStatementFinal/high-blood-pressure-in-adults-screening. Accessed January 21 , 2016

Credits

ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine

Current as ofDecember 19, 2017

Current as of: December 19, 2017

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine