Blood pressure chart

Use the blood pressure chart below to see what your blood pressure means. The blood pressure
chart is suitable for adults of any age. (The level for high blood pressure does not change with age.)

Blood pressure readings have two numbers, for example 140/90mmHg.

The top number is your systolic blood pressure. (The highest pressure when your heart beats and
pushes the blood round your body.) The bottom one is your diastolic blood pressure. (The lowest
pressure when your heart relaxes between beats.)

The blood pressure chart below shows ranges of high, low and healthy blood pressure readings.

Blood pressure chart for adults

Using this blood pressure chart: To work out what your blood pressure readings mean, just find
your top number (systolic) on the left side of the blood pressure chart and read across, and your
 bottom number (diastolic) on the bottom of the blood pressure chart. Where the two meet is your
blood pressure.

Download the Blood Pressure Chart

Download the Blood Pressure Chart(123.96 Kb)

What blood pressure readings mean

As you can see from the blood pressure chart, only one of the numbers has to be higher or lower
than it should be to count as either high blood pressure or low blood pressure:

90 over 60 (90/60) or less: You may have low blood pressure. More on low blood
pressure.
More than 90 over 60 (90/60) and less than 120 over 80 (120/80): Your blood
pressure reading is ideal and healthy. Follow a healthy lifestyle to keep it at this level.

More than 120 over 80 and less than 140 over 90 (120/80-140/90): You have a
normal blood pressure reading but it is a little higher than it should be, and you should try to lower
it. Make healthy changes to your lifestyle.

140 over 90 (140/90) or higher (over a number of weeks): You may have high blood
pressure (hypertension).Change your lifestyle - see your doctor or nurse and take any
medicines they may give you. More on high blood pressure

So:

if your top number is 140 or more - then you may havehigh blood pressure, regardless of
your bottom number.
if your bottom number is 90 or more - then you may havehigh blood pressure,
regardless your top number.

if your top number is 90 or less - then you may have low blood pressure, regardless of
your bottom number.

if your bottom number is 60 or less - then you may havelow blood pressure, regardless
of your top number.
Understanding Blood Pressure Readings

Blood pressure is typically recorded as two numbers, written as a ratio like this:

Systolic
The top number, which is also the higher of the two numbers, measures the pressure
in the arteries when the heart beats (when the heart muscle contracts).

Read as "117 over 76

millimeters of mercury"
Diastolic
The bottom number, which is also the lower of the two numbers, measures the
pressure in the arteries between heartbeats (when the heart muscle is resting between
beats and refilling with blood).

What is the AHA recommendation for healthy blood pressure?

This blood pressure chart reflects categories defined by the American Heart Association.

Blood Pressure Systolic Diastolic

Category mm Hg (upper #) mm Hg (lower #)

Normal less than 120 and less than 80

Prehypertension 120 139 or 80 89

High Blood Pressure

140 159 or 90 99
(Hypertension) Stage 1

High Blood Pressure

160 or higher or 100 or higher
(Hypertension) Stage 2
 Blood Pressure Systolic Diastolic
Category mm Hg (upper #) mm Hg (lower #)

Hypertensive Crisis
Higher than 180 or Higher than 110
(Emergency care needed)

* Your doctor should evaluate unusually low blood pressure readings.

How is high blood pressure diagnosed?

Your healthcare providers will want to get an accurate picture of your blood pressure and chart what happens over
time. Starting at age 20, the American Heart Association recommends a blood pressure screening at your regular
healthcare visit or once every 2 years, if your blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg.

Your blood pressure rises with each heartbeat and falls when
your 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. About one in three U.S. adults has high
blood pressure.

If your blood pressure reading is higher than normal, your

doctor may take several readings over time and/or have
youmonitor your blood pressure at home before diagnosing you
with high blood pressure.

Watch an animation of how a blood pressure test works.

A single high reading does not necessarily mean that you have high blood pressure. However, if readings stay
at 140/90 mm Hg or above (systolic 140 or above OR diastolic 90 or above) over time, your doctor will likely want you
to begin a treatment program. Such a program almost always includes lifestyle changes and often prescription
medication for those with readings of 140/90 or higher.

If, while monitoring your blood pressure, you get a systolic reading of 180 mm Hg or higher OR a diastolic reading of
110 mm HG or higher, wait a couple of minutes and take it again. If the reading is still at or above that level, you
should seek immediate emergency medical treatment for a hypertensive crisis. If you can't access the emergency
medical services (EMS), have someone drive you to the hospital right away.

Even if your blood pressure is normal, you should consider making lifestyle modifications to prevent the development
of HBP and improve your heart health.

Which number is more important, top (systolic) or bottom (diastolic)?

Typically more attention is given to the top number (the systolic blood pressure) as a major risk factor for
cardiovascular disease for people over 50 years old. In most people, systolic blood pressure rises steadily with age
due to increasing stiffness of large arteries, long-term build-up of plaque, and increased incidence of cardiac and
vascular disease.

Watch this video to learn more about your blood pressure numbers.

This content was last reviewed on 08/04/2014.

Interactive High Blood Pressure Guide

Find videos, trackers and more with our interactive HBP guide. The guide has tips to empower you to manage your
blood pressure. Get started!

Also available as a downloadable PDF.

140 is too high

140 can be many things, but its too high for blood pressure
Blood pressure chart: What your reading means
By Mayo Clinic Staf

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.

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
readings fall into two diferent categories, your correct blood pressure category is the
higher category. For example, if your blood pressure reading is 125/95 millimeters of
mercury (mm Hg), you have stage 1 hypertension.

Top
Bottom
number
number
(systolic) Your category* What to do
(diastolic) in
in mm
mm Hg
Hg

*Ranges may be lower for children and teenagers. Talk to your

child's doctor if you're concerned your child has high blood
pressure.

Note: 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.

Below and Below 80 Normal blood Maintain or adopt

120 pressure a healthy
Top
Bottom
number
number
(systolic) Your category* What to do
(diastolic) in
in mm
mm Hg
Hg

lifestyle.

Between or Between Prehypertension Maintain or adopt

120-139 80-89 a healthy
lifestyle.

Between or Between Stage 1 Maintain or adopt

140-159 90-99 hypertension a healthy
lifestyle. If your
blood pressure
goal isn't reached
in about a month,
talk to your
doctor about
taking one or
more
medications.

160 or or 100 or Stage 2 Maintain or adopt

higher higher hypertension a healthy
lifestyle. Talk to
your doctor about
taking more than
one medication.

If you're a healthy adult younger than age 60, or if you have chronic kidney disease,
diabetes or coronary artery disease, your treatment goal is less than 140/90 mm Hg. If
you're a healthy adult age 60 or older, your treatment goal is less than 150/90 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.
www.bloodpressureuk.org/BloodPressureandyou/Thebasics/Bloodpressurechart

https://www.caring.com/charts/blood-pressure
www.mayoclinic.org/
www.heart.org/