Blood Pressure Chart: Know What Your Numbers Mean
Blood pressure is the amount of force it takes for your heart to pump blood around your body. Measuring it gives you a good idea of how hard your heart is working.
The blood pressure chart above can help you understand your blood pressure reading numbers and whether your blood pressure is normal, elevated, or high.
How Is Blood Pressure Measured?
Your blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). There are two numbers:
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Systolic blood pressure: The first (or top) number. This is a measure of how much pressure is on your arteries (blood vessels) when your heart beats.
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Diastolic blood pressure: The second (or bottom) number. This shows how much pressure is on your arteries when your heart is resting between beats.
These are the ranges for normal, elevated, and high blood pressure readings:
- The normal range for blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg (or less than 120 over less than 80).
- Elevated blood pressure is in the range of 120-129 mm Hg over any number less than 80 mm Hg.
- High blood pressure is any reading 130 mm Hg or higher over 80 mm Hg of higher. This is known as hypertension.
Why Is Blood Pressure Measured?
High blood pressure is a serious warning sign. If untreated, hypertension can cause health problems like heart attack or stroke.
In general, hypertension does not have obvious symptoms. Most people can’t feel whether they have high blood pressure. So that’s why blood pressure monitoring is so important.
If you have high blood pressure, talk to your doctor to discuss a treatment plan.
Source: American Heart Association (2024) Understanding Blood Pressure Readings.
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