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What do my blood pressure numbers mean?

Enter your readings. Get a plain answer.

Enter up to three readings

Sit quietly for five minutes first. Feet flat, arm supported at heart height. One reading is fine; the average of three is better.

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Which set of bands this uses

Your reading is placed in two systems at once, because the world has not agreed on one and a number that is Stage 1 in the United States is high-normal in Europe. Neither is wrong. They draw the line in different places for different reasons.

ACC/AHA, 2017. Normal under 120/80, elevated from 120 to 129 systolic, stage 1 from 130/80, stage 2 from 140/90, and a crisis at 180/120. The lower stage 1 line is why a great many people became hypertensive overnight in 2017 without their arteries changing.

ESC/ESH. High-normal from 130/85, grade 1 from 140/90, grade 2 from 160/100 and grade 3 from 180/110.

What both agree on is that one reading decides nothing. Pressure moves with the time of day, a full bladder, talking, a rushed journey and the presence of a doctor, and the thing worth taking to an appointment is a week of readings rather than the highest one you ever saw.

Every figure on this site names where it came from. How we check.

Your reading, answered

Seated, rested for five minutes, arm supported. One reading is a snapshot; the average of several days is the truth.

ReadingWhat it means
Under 120 / 80Normal. Keep whatever you are doing.
120 to 129 / under 80Elevated. Lifestyle is the whole prescription at this stage.
130 to 139 / 80 to 89Stage 1 high. Confirmed over several days, this starts a conversation with a doctor.
140 / 90 and aboveStage 2 high. 140/90, 141/90 and 150/100 all live here: not a panic, but a doctor visit soon, with your home log in hand.
180 / 120 and aboveCrisis range. Rest five minutes and recheck; still there, or with chest pain, breathlessness or vision change, seek care now.

Either number counts: 118/92 is high because of the bottom number alone.

If you are buying a monitor

Get an upper-arm cuff, not a wrist one, from a validated brand like Omron. Expect $30 to $60. Check the cuff size fits your arm; a too-small cuff reads high.

How to choose oneSee validated upper-arm monitors

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Add your age in your profile and this sharpens: targets shift with age.

Saved here, it also updates your health score and your record.

Blood sugarPressure and sugar damage the same small arteries. Doctors read them together.CholesterolThe third of the three numbers that decide heart risk.

Common questions

What is a normal blood pressure by age?
For most adults of any age, a reading below 120/80 is considered normal. Blood pressure does tend to creep up as arteries stiffen with age, but higher numbers are still worth treating, not just accepting. Many doctors aim for below 130/80 in older adults, though the right target depends on your health, so confirm yours with your own doctor.
What blood pressure should I aim for at home?
Home readings run about five points lower than clinic readings, so home targets do too. A common home target is below 135/85 for most adults, below 130/80 with diabetes or kidney disease, and often a more relaxed target after age 80. Your own doctor sets the final number based on your full picture.
Why is my blood pressure higher at the doctor than at home?
Many people run higher in a clinic because of nerves, rushing in from the parking lot, or talking during the measurement. This is called white coat effect, and it is why home readings taken calmly often give a truer picture. Bring a week of home readings to your appointment so your doctor can compare.
How do I measure my blood pressure correctly at home?
Sit quietly for five minutes first, with your back supported, feet flat on the floor, and your arm resting at heart level. Use a cuff on your bare upper arm, not your wrist, and do not talk during the reading. Take two readings a minute apart, morning and evening, and write them down.
When is a blood pressure reading an emergency?
A reading of 180/120 or higher along with chest pain, shortness of breath, a bad headache, vision changes, weakness, or trouble speaking is an emergency. Call 911, or your local emergency number, right away rather than waiting to retest. If you get 180/120 with no symptoms, rest five minutes and check again, and call your doctor the same day if it stays that high.
Is 140 over 90 high blood pressure?
Yes. 140/90 is the doorway to stage 2 high blood pressure, and 141/90 or 145/92 mean the same thing. One reading does not settle it: check at home, seated and rested, morning and evening for a week. If the average stays there, see a doctor with the log; caught at this stage it is very treatable.
My blood pressure is 150/100. What should I do?
Do not panic, and do not ignore it. Sit quietly for five minutes and recheck; a stressful moment can add 20 points. If readings around 150/100 repeat across several days, book a doctor visit soon, since both numbers are well into stage 2. Chest pain, breathlessness, severe headache or vision change alongside it changes the answer to today.