Recommended Blood Pressure Readings

Blood pressure is the force applied to the artery walls when the heart beats (systolic blood pressure) and when it is resting between beats (diastolic blood pressure). It is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHG) and is expressed as two numbers. The first number represents the systolic pressure, and the second number represents the diastolic pressure. High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when one or both of these numbers are higher than normal.

Recommended

• The recommended blood pressure for adults is a systolic blood pressure of less than 120 and a diastolic blood pressure of less than 80. In other words, normal blood pressure is indicated by a reading of less than 120/80 mmHG.

Prehypertension

• Prehypertension occurs when the systolic blood pressure is regularly between 120 and 139 or the diastolic blood pressure is regularly between 80 and 89. A person with prehypertension is at an increased risk for developing high blood pressure.

High Blood Pressure, Stage 1

• A systolic blood pressure that is consistently between 140 and159 or a diastolic blood pressure that is consistently between 90 and 99 represents stage 1 high blood pressure.

High Blood Pressure, Stage 2

• A systolic blood pressure that is consistently above 160 or a diastolic blood pressure that is consistently above 100 represents stage 2 high blood pressure.

Hypotension

• Low blood pressure, or hypotension, occurs when the systolic blood pressure is below 90 and the diastolic blood pressure is below 60.