What underlying condition must be present for a diagnosis of stage II hypertension?

For a diagnosis of stage II hypertension, it is essential for blood pressure (BP) readings to be consistently over 140/90 mmHg. Stage II hypertension is defined by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association guidelines, which categorize hypertension into different stages based on systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements.

The cutoff for stage II hypertension is specifically at or above these levels, indicating a more severe form of high blood pressure that typically requires more aggressive management, such as lifestyle changes and medications.

While factors like family history, prior treatment, and medication management may be relevant considerations in the overall assessment of a patient's health and management plan, they do not play a direct role in the diagnosis of stage II hypertension itself. Therefore, the critical aspect for diagnosing this stage is the measurement of blood pressure that exceeds the specified threshold.