Not Medical Advice: A blood pressure of 168/96 is considered to be severe. If left untreated, this could lead to a heart attack, stroke or heart failure.
Abnormal increases in blood pressure are defined as having blood pressures higher than 120/80 mmHg.
The table below outlines and defines high blood pressure severity levels.
Understanding Blood Pressure Readings via kwout
Blood pressure rises with each heartbeat and falls when heart relaxes between beats. While BP can change from minute to minute with changes in posture, exercise, stress or sleep, it should normally be less than 120/80 mm Hg (less than 120 systolic AND less than 80 diastolic) for an adult age 20 or over.
According to The American Heart Association, to lower your blood pressure, you must aim to eat a diet that's rich in:
Fruits
Vegetables
Whole-grain, high-fiber foods
Fat-free and low-fat or 1 percent dairy products
Beans
Skinless poultry and lean meat
Fish, especially fatty fish containing omega 3 fatty acids such as salmon, trout and herring (eat at least twice a week)
...And low in:
Saturated and trans fats
Sodium
And limit:
Added sugars
Check out 6 Tips for Lowering Your Blood Pressure Fast, shared by Healthline.