Blood pressure chart: What your reading means
This blood pressure chart can help you figure out if your blood pressure is at a healthy level or if you'll need to take some steps to improve your numbers.
Your total blood pressure reading is determined by measuring your systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Systolic blood pressure, the top number, measures the force your heart exerts on the walls of your arteries each time it beats. Diastolic blood pressure, the bottom number, measures the force your heart exerts on the walls of your arteries in between beats.
Blood pressure readings fall into four general categories, ranging from normal to stage 2 high blood pressure (hypertension). The level of your blood pressure determines what kind of treatment you may need. To get an accurate blood pressure measurement, your doctor should evaluate your readings based on the average of two or more blood pressure readings at three or more office visits.
Here's a look at the four blood pressure categories and what they mean for you. If your systolic and diastolic readings fall into two different categories, your correct blood pressure category is the higher category. For example, if your blood pressure reading is 125/85 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), you have stage 1 hypertension.
| Top number (systolic) in mm Hg | And/or | Bottom number (diastolic) in mm Hg | Your category* | What to do† |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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*Ranges may be lower for children and teenagers. Talk to your child's doctor if you're concerned your child has high blood pressure. †These recommendations address high blood pressure as a single health condition. If you also have heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease or certain other conditions, you may need to treat your blood pressure more aggressively. |
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| Below 120 | and | Below 80 | Normal blood pressure | Maintain or adopt a healthy lifestyle. |
| 120-129 | and | Below 80 | Elevated blood pressure | Maintain or adopt a healthy lifestyle. |
| 130-139 | or | 80-89 | Stage 1 high blood pressure (hypertension) | Maintain or adopt a healthy lifestyle. Talk to your doctor about taking one or more medications. |
| 140 or higher | or | 90 or higher | Stage 2 high blood pressure (hypertension) | Maintain or adopt a healthy lifestyle. Talk to your doctor about taking more than one medication. |
If you are an adult with a 10 percent or higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years, or if you have chronic kidney disease, diabetes or coronary artery disease, your treatment goal is less than 130/80 mm Hg. If you're a healthy adult age 65 or older, your treatment goal is also less than 130/80 mm Hg.
If your blood pressure is normal, maintaining or adopting a healthy lifestyle can prevent or delay the onset of high blood pressure or other health problems. If your blood pressure isn't normal, a healthy lifestyle — oftentimes along with medication — can help bring it under control and reduce your risk of life-threatening complications.
