JNC 7 Blood Pressure Category	JNC 6 Blood Pressure Category	SBP (mm Hg)	and/or	DBP (mm Hg)
Normal	Optimal	< 120	and	< 80
Prehypertension		120-139	or	80-89
--	Normal	< 130	and	< 85
--	High-normal	130-139	or	85-89
Hypertension:	Hypertension:
Stage 1	Stage 1	140-159	or	90-99
Stage 2		>/= 160	or	>/= 100
--	Stage 2	160-179	or	100-109
--	Stage 3	>/= 180	or	>/= 110

Blood Pressure Classification	Lifestyle Modification	Initial Drug Therapy
		Without compelling indication	With compelling indication
Normal	Encourage
Prehypertension	Yes	No antihypertensive drug indicated	Drug(s) for the compelling indications
Stage 1 hypertension	Yes	Thiazide-type diuretics for most; may consider ACE inhibitor, ARB, beta-blocker, CCB, or combination	Drug(s) for the compelling indications; other antihypertensive drugs (diuretics, ACE inhibitor, ARB, beta-blocker, CCB) as needed
Stage 2 hypertension	Yes	2-drug combination for most (usually thiazide-type diuretic and ACE inhibitor or ARB or beta-blocker or CCB)	Drug(s) for the compelling indications; other antihypertensive drugs (diuretics, ACE inhibitor, ARB, beta-blocker, CCB) as needed

Compelling Indication	Initial Therapy Options
Heart failure	Thiazide-type diuretic, beta-blocker, ACE inhibitor, ARB, aldosterone antagonist
Post MI	Beta-blocker, ACE inhibitor, aldosterone antagonist
High CVD risk	Thiazide-type diuretic, beta-blocker, ACE inhibitor, CCB
Diabetes	Thiazide-type diuretic, beta-blocker, ACE inhibitor, ARB, CCB
Chronic kidney disease	ACE inhibitor, ARB
Recurrent stroke prevention	Thiazide-type diuretic, ACE inhibitor

ARB = angiotensin receptor blocker; CCB = calcium channel blocker; CVD = cardiovascular disease