What does my reading mean?
Blood Pressure Checker
Enter your top and bottom numbers and see what your reading means, using American Heart Association categories, plus what to do next.
How to use it
How to use the blood pressure checker
Step 1
Sit quietly for five minutes with your arm supported at heart level.
Step 2
Take two readings a minute apart and enter the average.
Step 3
Tick any symptoms you have right now, then see your category and next steps.
How it works
Blood pressure categories for adults
The checker first looks for dangerously high readings, then places you in a category. If your two numbers fall in different categories, the higher one counts.
| Category | Top number (systolic) | Bottom number (diastolic) | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Below 120 | and below 80 | Keep it up; check at least once a year |
| Elevated | 120 to 129 | and below 80 | Look at salt, activity, sleep, alcohol and weight; recheck in a few months |
| High, stage 1 | 130 to 139 | or 80 to 89 | Book a visit to talk about lifestyle changes and overall risk |
| High, stage 2 | 140 or higher | or 90 or higher | Book a visit soon; most people need a treatment plan |
| Severe | Above 180 | or above 120 | Recheck after 5 minutes; contact a clinician today, or call 911 with symptoms |
A top number below 90 or a bottom number below 60 is shown as lower than typical. That is often fine if you feel well, but talk to a clinician if you feel dizzy, faint or unusually tired.
Understanding your result
How to get an accurate reading at home
Small things change a reading by several points. These steps follow standard measuring advice.
Wait 30 minutes
No caffeine, exercise or smoking in the half hour before you measure.
Sit properly
Back supported, feet flat on the floor, legs uncrossed, for five quiet minutes.
Support your arm
Rest your arm on a table at heart level, with the cuff on bare skin.
Use the right cuff
An upper-arm cuff that fits your arm gives the most reliable result.
Stay still and quiet
Do not talk or look at your phone while the cuff inflates.
Repeat and record
Take two readings a minute apart, morning and evening, for a week, and note the times.
Next steps
When to get care for blood pressure
One reading is a snapshot. A pattern over a week tells you much more, so share your readings at your next visit.
Book a visit if your readings are often 130/80 or higher, or if you are already on treatment and your numbers are creeping up. Blood pressure care with chronic care management
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Keep exploring
Related pages and reading
Sources
- High blood pressure MedlinePlus
- Blood pressure measurement MedlinePlus
- High blood pressure NHLBI, NIH
- About high blood pressure CDC
Common questions
About this tool
General information, not a diagnosis. For an emergency, call 911.
Below 120/80 mmHg is considered normal for adults.
The top (systolic) number is the pressure when your heart beats. The bottom (diastolic) number is the pressure between beats.
A reading above 180/120 with symptoms such as chest pain, breathlessness, weakness, vision changes or trouble speaking needs 911.
Some people’s blood pressure rises in a medical setting. Home readings taken correctly over a week help show your usual level.
No. A diagnosis is based on several readings over time. Recheck, keep a log, and talk to a clinician if it stays high.
Often, yes. With home readings shared through the patient portal, many people manage blood pressure through video check-ins.
Ready when you are