According to guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC), blood pressure is measured using two numbers:
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Systolic (top number): Measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats.
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Diastolic (bottom number): Measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats.
Blood Pressure Categories
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Normal: Less than 120 mm Hg systolic and less than 80 mm Hg diastolic.
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Elevated: 120–129 systolic and less than 80 diastolic. (People with elevated blood pressure are more likely to develop high blood pressure unless steps are taken to control it.)
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Stage 1 Hypertension: 130–139 systolic or 80–89 diastolic.
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Stage 2 Hypertension: 140 or higher systolic or 90 or higher diastolic.
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Hypertensive Crisis (Seek Emergency Care): Higher than 180 systolic and/or higher than 120 diastolic. If readings reach this level, wait a few minutes and retest. If it remains this high and you experience symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or changes in vision, call emergency services immediately.
Note: A single high reading does not automatically mean you have high blood pressure; doctors typically look at an average of readings taken over multiple visits before making a diagnosis.
