High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because most people feel nothing until it causes a stroke, heart attack or kidney damage. The World Health Organization estimates that around 1.3 billion adults worldwide have hypertension, and about half do not know it.
Imagine knowing your numbers, understanding exactly what they mean, and acting years before a stroke ever has a chance. That is what this chart gives you.
Understanding the two numbers
A reading such as 120/80 mmHg has two parts. The top number (systolic) is the pressure when your heart beats. The bottom number (diastolic) is the pressure when your heart rests between beats.
Blood pressure chart for adults
| Category | Systolic (top) | Diastolic (bottom) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Below 120 | and | Below 80 |
| Elevated | 120–129 | and | Below 80 |
| High (stage 1) | 130–139 | or | 80–89 |
| High (stage 2) | 140 or higher | or | 90 or higher |
| Hypertensive crisis (seek care now) | Higher than 180 | and/or | Higher than 120 |
Does normal blood pressure change with age?
Blood pressure tends to rise with age as arteries stiffen, so high blood pressure is much more common in older adults. But the healthy range for adults does not get higher just because you are older. What changes is the treatment target for some people: for example, UK guidance suggests a clinic target below 140/90 for adults under 80 and below 150/90 for those aged 80 and over, adjusted for frailty and other conditions.
Children and teenagers are assessed differently, using charts based on age, sex and height, so ask a nurse or health professional to interpret a child’s reading.
Low blood pressure
A reading below about 90/60 is generally considered low. It is only a problem if it causes symptoms such as dizziness or fainting. See our guide to low blood pressure.
How to get an accurate reading at home
- Sit quietly for 5 minutes first, back supported, feet flat, arm resting at heart level
- Use the right cuff size on a bare arm
- No caffeine, smoking or exercise for 30 minutes before
- Take two readings a minute apart, morning and evening, for a week
- Write them down and share them with your nurse or health professional
When to seek help
- Now: a reading above 180/120 with chest pain, breathlessness, weakness, vision change or confusion
- Within days: repeated readings of 140/90 or above
- At your next check: readings between 120/80 and 139/89, to talk about lifestyle changes
“But I feel fine, so my blood pressure must be fine.”
High blood pressure rarely causes symptoms. Most people with it feel completely well until a stroke or heart attack happens. The only way to know is to measure it.
Your next step: get your blood pressure checked this week at a pharmacy, clinic or with a home monitor, and write the number down.
Related: Foods that lower blood pressure · Measuring blood pressure accurately
Sources: World Health Organization, hypertension fact sheet; American Heart Association blood pressure categories; NICE guideline NG136, Hypertension in adults.
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