Two numbers you can knowwithout a lab.

The categories the American Heart Association publishes

The AHA groups office blood pressure readings as follows. The words "and" and "or" between the two numbers are part of the definition, not filler.

• Normal: systolic less than 120 and diastolic less than 80
• Elevated: systolic 120 to 129 and diastolic less than 80
• Stage 1 hypertension: systolic 130 to 139 or diastolic 80 to 89
• Stage 2 hypertension: systolic 140 or higher, or diastolic 90 or higher
• Severe hypertension, without symptoms: systolic higher than 180 and/or diastolic higher than 120. The AHA directs contacting a health care professional.
• Hypertensive emergency: the same numbers accompanied by symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness, weakness, vision change, or difficulty speaking. The AHA directs calling emergency services.

Measuring at home, the way the AHA describes it

Before measuring: no smoking, caffeinated drinks, alcohol, or exercise for 30 minutes beforehand; empty the bladder; use a validated device with the correct cuff size; sit quietly for more than 5 minutes without talking.

Position matters more than people expect

• Sit upright with the back supported, feet flat on the floor, legs uncrossed
• Rest the arm on a flat surface at heart level
• Put the cuff on bare skin above the bend of the elbow, never over clothing
• Stay relaxed and do not talk during the measurement
• Take at least two readings a minute apart, and record all of them
• Measure at the same time each day

What a home reading is for

It is information to bring to a clinician, who can confirm a category and decide what follows. A single reading is a snapshot. A written record over weeks is the thing worth handing across a desk.

What this page does not do

It does not tell any reader what their category means for them, does not recommend treatment, and does not calculate anything. Those belong to a clinician who knows the person.