Blood Pressure Numbers
| Category | Systolic (top number) |
Diastolic (bottom number) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Less than 120 | And | Less than 80 |
| Prehypertension | 120–139 | Or | 80–89 |
| High blood pressure | |||
| Stage 1 | 140–159 | Or | 90–99 |
| Stage 2 | 160 or higher | Or | 100 or higher |
There are 2 numbers when measuring blood pressure. You usually hear some one say something like “one twenty over eighty”. The top number is called the systolic (sis-TOL-ik), and the bottom number the diastolic (di-a-STOL-ik).
The Systolic blood pressure is the pressure produced against your artery walls when the heart beats while pumping blood through them. The Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure against the artery wall when the heart is at rest between the beats.
You’re going to generally see blood pressure numbers written with the systolic number above (or before) the diastolic. As in our example above – 120/80 mmHg.
The table below shows what is considered to be normal numbers for adults. It also shows you which numbers place you at greater risk for blood pressure related health problems.
Now, everyone’s blood pressure tends to goes up and down throughout the day. This is even in people who have normal blood pressure. But, if your blood pressure numbers tend to stay higher than normal most of the time, you’re probably at risk.