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How Is Your Blood Pressure Measured?

Blood pressure is expressed as two numbers. These numbers represent the pressure against the walls of your blood vessels as the blood moves through them. Systolic pressure is when pressure is highest in the arteries and occurs when the heart contracts. Diastolic pressure is the moment of minimum pressure in the arteries and occurs when the heart relaxes. Normal blood pressure is less than 120 (systolic) over 80 (diastolic), typically written as 120/80 mm Hg (read 120 over 80 millimeters of mercury).1

What the Numbers Mean

If your blood pressure is less than 120/802:

  • Your blood pressure is normal

If your blood pressure is between 120/80 and 140/902:

  • You’re at risk for high blood pressure. Lifestyle modifications are important and should be recommended by your doctor or healthcare professional

If your blood pressure is:

140/90 and above
or
130/80 and above
AND
you have diabetes or chronic kidney disease2:

  • Your blood pressure is high. Lifestyle modifications and high blood pressure medication are important and should be recommended by your doctor or healthcare professional
Next: Learn about the causes and symptoms of high blood pressure
References: 1. Merck Research Laboratories. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. 18th ed. Whitehouse Station, NJ. Merck & Co., Inc., 2006. 2. National Institutes of Health. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7). May 2003. NIH Publication No. 03-5233.
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