Blood Pressure Chart & Numbers (Normal Range, Systolic, Diastolic)

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• What Do Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure Numbers Mean?
• What Does the Systolic Blood Pressure Number Mean?
• What Does the Diastolic Blood Pressure Number Mean?
• Blood Pressure Ranges
• Hypertension Blood Pressure Ranges
• How Blood Pressure Is Measured
• When to Check Blood Pressure
• Checking Blood Pressure at Home
• Preventing High Blood Pressure
• Causes of Sudden High Blood Pressure
• What Is Malignant High Blood Pressure?
• What Causes Malignant Hypertension?
• Who’s at Risk for Malignant Hypertension?
• How Is Malignant Hypertension Treated?
• More

When you get your blood pressure numbers, there are two of them. The first, or “top” one, is your systolic blood pressure. The second, or “bottom,” one is diastolic blood pressure.

Knowing both is important and could save your life.

When your heart beats, it squeezes and pushes blood through your arteries to the rest of your body. This force creates pressure on those blood vessels, and that’s your systolic blood pressure.

Here’s how to understand your systolic blood pressure number:

• Normal: Below 120
• Elevated: 120-129
• Stage I: high blood pressure (also called hypertension): 130-139
• Stage II: hypertension: 140 or more
• Hypertensive crisis: 180 or more. Call 911.

The diastolic reading, or the bottom number, is the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats. This is the time when the heart fills with blood and gets oxygen.

This is what your diastolic blood pressure number means:

• Normal: Lower than 80
• Stage I: hypertension: 80-89
• Stage II: hypertension: 90 or more
• Hypertensive crisis: 120 or more. Call 911.

Our chart below has more details.

Even if your diastolic number is normal (lower than 80), you can have elevated blood pressure if the systolic reading is 120-129.

If you have normal blood pressure, your blood pressure is less than 120/80. Stick with an active lifestyle and healthy diet to keep that going.

Is your blood pressure above the normal range, in either or both systolic and diastolic levels? Your doctor will want to have more than one blood pressure reading before diagnosing hypertension.

Treatments include lifestyle changes, and if that’s not enough, they may also include medications.

Lifestyle changes include:

• Cutting back on sodium. Ask your doctor what your daily sodium limit should be. Read the Nutrition Facts label on food products.
• Getting more exercise. Studies show benefits with 3-4 sessions per week, each lasting 40 minutes, of aerobic exercise (the kind that makes your heart beat faster).
• Losing weight, if you’re overweight. You can expect to shave about 1 point off your blood pressure numbers for each pound lost.
• Eating a healthy diet. The DASH diet is designed to improve blood pressure. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. It favors vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy, poultry, fish, and chicken.
• Limiting alcohol to no more than one drink a day for women or two for men.

If you also need medication to lower your blood pressure, there are several types:

• Diuretics
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
• Alpha blockers
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers
• Beta-blockers
• Calcium channel blockers
• Central agonists
• Vasodilators
• Combination medications

If you need medication, your doctor will consider which type is best for you. (They’ll also recommend lifestyle habits that help lower blood pressure.) Deciding whether you need medication is often done on a case-by-case basis, depending on what else is going on with your health and on your preferences.

 .

If you have:

• Elevated blood pressure: Your systolic pressure is 120-129, and your diastolic pressure is less than 80. Lifestyle changes and monitoring your blood pressure may be all you need at this point. Your doctor will let you know.
• Stage I hypertension: Systolic 130-139 or diastolic 80-89. Your doctor will recommend lifestyle changes and will consider whether you also need medication.
• Stage II hypertension: Systolic at least 140 or diastolic at least 90. Your doctor will recommend lifestyle changes and consider starting you on medication to lower your blood pressure.
• Hypertensive crisis: Your blood pressure is 180/120 or higher. You may or may not also have symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, numbness/weakness, and trouble with vision or with speaking. This is an emergency. Call 911.

One reading may not be enough to diagnose high blood pressure. Your doctor may want you to have several blood pressure readings over time, to check if it’s consistently too high.

A doctor or nurse will measure your blood pressure with a small gauge attached to an inflatable cuff. It’s simple and painless.

The person taking your blood pressure wraps the cuff around your upper arm. Some cuffs go around the forearm or wrist, but often, they aren’t as accurate.

Your doctor or nurse will use a stethoscope to listen to the blood moving through your artery.

They’ll inflate the cuff to a pressure higher than your systolic blood pressure, and it will tighten around your arm. Then, they’ll release it. As the cuff deflates, the first sound they hear through the stethoscope is the systolic blood pressure. It sounds like a whooshing noise. The point where this noise goes away marks the diastolic blood pressure.

In a blood pressure reading, the systolic number always comes first and then the diastolic number. For example, your numbers may be “120 over 80” or written as 120/80.

• If your blood pressure is normal—less than 120/80—get it checked every year, or more often as your doctor suggests.
• If your blood pressure is elevated—a systolic blood pressure between 120 and 129 or diastolic blood pressure of less than 80—your doctor will probably want to check it every 3-6 months. They will probably recommend lifestyle changes such as more exercise and a better diet.
• If you have stage I hypertension—130-139 over 89-90—the doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and see you again in 3-6 months. They could also tell you to make the changes and give you medication, then recheck your condition in a month. It depends on what other health conditions or risk factors you have.
• If you have stage II hypertension—140/90 or higher—you’ll likely get medication. You’ll also need to make lifestyle changes and see the doctor again in a month.

Keeping track of blood pressure at home is important for many people, especially if you have high blood pressure. This helps you and your doctor find out if your treatment is working.

Your doctor may also suggest that you check your pressure at home if they think you may have “white coat hypertension.” It’s a real condition. The stress of being in a doctor’s office increases your blood pressure, but when you’re home, it’s normal.

Ask your doctor to recommend an easy-to-use home blood pressure monitor. Make sure the cuff fits properly. If your arm is too big for the cuff, the reading may be higher than your blood pressure really is. Ask your doctor for a larger cuff or make sure you buy a home monitor with a cuff that fits you.

You also can use a wrist blood pressure monitor, but they often aren’t as accurate. Follow the directions that come with the device to make sure you are using it correctly.

No matter which type of blood pressure monitor you have, it’s a good idea to take it to your doctor’s office. You can compare its reading to the numbers your doctor gets. Avoid caffeine, cigarettes, and exercise for at least 30 minutes before the test.

When you take your blood pressure at home, sit up straight in a chair and put both feet on the floor. Ask your doctor or nurse to show you the right way to position your arm so you get accurate readings.

Check it at the same time of day so the readings are consistent. Then, take several readings about 1 minute apart. Be sure to write down the results.

Take the blood pressure journal to your doctor’s office so you can talk about any changes in your numbers. Your doctor will decide whether you need medications in addition to lifestyle changes.

Even if your blood pressure is high, you probably won’t have symptoms. That’s why it’s often called the “silent killer.” The first symptom of untreated high blood pressure may be a heart attack, stroke, or kidney damage.

To keep your blood pressure in the normal range, your daily habits are key. These things help:

Don’t smoke. Among the many health problems that smoking causes, it increases your blood pressure.

Make physical activity a habit. Most experts recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity (such as biking or brisk walking) five or more times a week. Or you could do a harder activity for a shorter period of time per session.

Eat right. Read food labels to see how much sodium is in a serving. Check with your doctor to find out what your daily limit should be. Include a lot of vegetables and fruits, along with whatever else you choose to put on your plate.

Stick to a healthy weight. Extra pounds increase your blood pressure. If you’re not sure what a healthy weight would be for you, ask your doctor.

Get enough sleep. For most adults, that’s 7-8 hours of sleep per night on a regular basis.

If you drink alcohol, limit it to no more than one drink a day if you’re a woman and up to two drinks a day if you’re a man.

Sometimes, your blood pressure will spike for short periods. This is known as sudden high blood pressure. Here are some of the causes:

• Caffeine
• Smoking
• Stress
• Certain medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or a mix of meds
• Overactive adrenal glands
• Chronic kidney disease
• Thyroid issues (overactive or underactive thyroid)
• Pregnancy-related high blood pressure

Malignant hypertension is extremely high blood pressure that develops rapidly and causes some type of organ damage. Malignant hypertension should be treated as a medical emergency.

In many people, high blood pressure is the main cause of malignant hypertension. Missing doses of blood pressure medications can also cause it. In addition, there are certain medical conditions that can cause it. They include:

• Collagen vascular disease, such as scleroderma
• Kidney disease
• Spinal cord injuries
• Tumor of the adrenal gland
• Use of certain medications, including birth control pills and monoamine oxidase inhibitors
• Use of illegal drugs, such as cocaine

Malignant hypertension is rare. About 1% of people who have a history of high blood pressure develop this life-threatening condition.

You are at higher risk of developing it if you are a man, African American, or someone of lower economic status. Poor access to health care increases the risk.

Malignant hypertension is a medical emergency and needs to be treated in a hospital, often in an intensive care unit. The doctor will consider your symptoms and overall health when deciding what treatment plan is best for you. The goal of treatment is to carefully lower your blood pressure within a matter of minutes.

You will receive blood pressure medicines through an IV, which is the quickest way to treat extremely high blood pressure. Once blood pressure is at a safe level, the medications may be switched to oral forms. If you develop kidney failure, you may need kidney dialysis.

Other treatments depend on your specific symptoms and possible causes of the malignant hypertension.

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Blood Pressure Chart & Numbers (Normal Range, Systolic, Diastolic)

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• What Do Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure Numbers Mean?
• What Does the Systolic Blood Pressure Number Mean?
• What Does the Diastolic Blood Pressure Number Mean?
• Blood Pressure Ranges
• Hypertension Blood Pressure Ranges
• How Blood Pressure Is Measured
• When to Check Blood Pressure
• Checking Blood Pressure at Home
• Preventing High Blood Pressure
• Causes of Sudden High Blood Pressure
• What Is Malignant High Blood Pressure?
• What Causes Malignant Hypertension?
• Who’s at Risk for Malignant Hypertension?
• How Is Malignant Hypertension Treated?
• More

When you get your blood pressure numbers, there are two of them. The first, or “top” one, is your systolic blood pressure. The second, or “bottom,” one is diastolic blood pressure.

Knowing both is important and could save your life.

When your heart beats, it squeezes and pushes blood through your arteries to the rest of your body. This force creates pressure on those blood vessels, and that’s your systolic blood pressure.

Here’s how to understand your systolic blood pressure number:

• Normal: Below 120
• Elevated: 120-129
• Stage I: high blood pressure (also called hypertension): 130-139
• Stage II: hypertension: 140 or more
• Hypertensive crisis: 180 or more. Call 911.

The diastolic reading, or the bottom number, is the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats. This is the time when the heart fills with blood and gets oxygen.

This is what your diastolic blood pressure number means:

• Normal: Lower than 80
• Stage I: hypertension: 80-89
• Stage II: hypertension: 90 or more
• Hypertensive crisis: 120 or more. Call 911.

Our chart below has more details.

Even if your diastolic number is normal (lower than 80), you can have elevated blood pressure if the systolic reading is 120-129.

If you have normal blood pressure, your blood pressure is less than 120/80. Stick with an active lifestyle and healthy diet to keep that going.

Is your blood pressure above the normal range, in either or both systolic and diastolic levels? Your doctor will want to have more than one blood pressure reading before diagnosing hypertension.

Treatments include lifestyle changes, and if that’s not enough, they may also include medications.

Lifestyle changes include:

• Cutting back on sodium. Ask your doctor what your daily sodium limit should be. Read the Nutrition Facts label on food products.
• Getting more exercise. Studies show benefits with 3-4 sessions per week, each lasting 40 minutes, of aerobic exercise (the kind that makes your heart beat faster).
• Losing weight, if you’re overweight. You can expect to shave about 1 point off your blood pressure numbers for each pound lost.
• Eating a healthy diet. The DASH diet is designed to improve blood pressure. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. It favors vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy, poultry, fish, and chicken.
• Limiting alcohol to no more than one drink a day for women or two for men.

If you also need medication to lower your blood pressure, there are several types:

• Diuretics
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
• Alpha blockers
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers
• Beta-blockers
• Calcium channel blockers
• Central agonists
• Vasodilators
• Combination medications

If you need medication, your doctor will consider which type is best for you. (They’ll also recommend lifestyle habits that help lower blood pressure.) Deciding whether you need medication is often done on a case-by-case basis, depending on what else is going on with your health and on your preferences.

 .

If you have:

• Elevated blood pressure: Your systolic pressure is 120-129, and your diastolic pressure is less than 80. Lifestyle changes and monitoring your blood pressure may be all you need at this point. Your doctor will let you know.
• Stage I hypertension: Systolic 130-139 or diastolic 80-89. Your doctor will recommend lifestyle changes and will consider whether you also need medication.
• Stage II hypertension: Systolic at least 140 or diastolic at least 90. Your doctor will recommend lifestyle changes and consider starting you on medication to lower your blood pressure.
• Hypertensive crisis: Your blood pressure is 180/120 or higher. You may or may not also have symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, numbness/weakness, and trouble with vision or with speaking. This is an emergency. Call 911.

One reading may not be enough to diagnose high blood pressure. Your doctor may want you to have several blood pressure readings over time, to check if it’s consistently too high.

A doctor or nurse will measure your blood pressure with a small gauge attached to an inflatable cuff. It’s simple and painless.

The person taking your blood pressure wraps the cuff around your upper arm. Some cuffs go around the forearm or wrist, but often, they aren’t as accurate.

Your doctor or nurse will use a stethoscope to listen to the blood moving through your artery.

They’ll inflate the cuff to a pressure higher than your systolic blood pressure, and it will tighten around your arm. Then, they’ll release it. As the cuff deflates, the first sound they hear through the stethoscope is the systolic blood pressure. It sounds like a whooshing noise. The point where this noise goes away marks the diastolic blood pressure.

In a blood pressure reading, the systolic number always comes first and then the diastolic number. For example, your numbers may be “120 over 80” or written as 120/80.

• If your blood pressure is normal—less than 120/80—get it checked every year, or more often as your doctor suggests.
• If your blood pressure is elevated—a systolic blood pressure between 120 and 129 or diastolic blood pressure of less than 80—your doctor will probably want to check it every 3-6 months. They will probably recommend lifestyle changes such as more exercise and a better diet.
• If you have stage I hypertension—130-139 over 89-90—the doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and see you again in 3-6 months. They could also tell you to make the changes and give you medication, then recheck your condition in a month. It depends on what other health conditions or risk factors you have.
• If you have stage II hypertension—140/90 or higher—you’ll likely get medication. You’ll also need to make lifestyle changes and see the doctor again in a month.

Keeping track of blood pressure at home is important for many people, especially if you have high blood pressure. This helps you and your doctor find out if your treatment is working.

Your doctor may also suggest that you check your pressure at home if they think you may have “white coat hypertension.” It’s a real condition. The stress of being in a doctor’s office increases your blood pressure, but when you’re home, it’s normal.

Ask your doctor to recommend an easy-to-use home blood pressure monitor. Make sure the cuff fits properly. If your arm is too big for the cuff, the reading may be higher than your blood pressure really is. Ask your doctor for a larger cuff or make sure you buy a home monitor with a cuff that fits you.

You also can use a wrist blood pressure monitor, but they often aren’t as accurate. Follow the directions that come with the device to make sure you are using it correctly.

No matter which type of blood pressure monitor you have, it’s a good idea to take it to your doctor’s office. You can compare its reading to the numbers your doctor gets. Avoid caffeine, cigarettes, and exercise for at least 30 minutes before the test.

When you take your blood pressure at home, sit up straight in a chair and put both feet on the floor. Ask your doctor or nurse to show you the right way to position your arm so you get accurate readings.

Check it at the same time of day so the readings are consistent. Then, take several readings about 1 minute apart. Be sure to write down the results.

Take the blood pressure journal to your doctor’s office so you can talk about any changes in your numbers. Your doctor will decide whether you need medications in addition to lifestyle changes.

Even if your blood pressure is high, you probably won’t have symptoms. That’s why it’s often called the “silent killer.” The first symptom of untreated high blood pressure may be a heart attack, stroke, or kidney damage.

To keep your blood pressure in the normal range, your daily habits are key. These things help:

Don’t smoke. Among the many health problems that smoking causes, it increases your blood pressure.

Make physical activity a habit. Most experts recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity (such as biking or brisk walking) five or more times a week. Or you could do a harder activity for a shorter period of time per session.

Eat right. Read food labels to see how much sodium is in a serving. Check with your doctor to find out what your daily limit should be. Include a lot of vegetables and fruits, along with whatever else you choose to put on your plate.

Stick to a healthy weight. Extra pounds increase your blood pressure. If you’re not sure what a healthy weight would be for you, ask your doctor.

Get enough sleep. For most adults, that’s 7-8 hours of sleep per night on a regular basis.

If you drink alcohol, limit it to no more than one drink a day if you’re a woman and up to two drinks a day if you’re a man.

Sometimes, your blood pressure will spike for short periods. This is known as sudden high blood pressure. Here are some of the causes:

• Caffeine
• Smoking
• Stress
• Certain medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or a mix of meds
• Overactive adrenal glands
• Chronic kidney disease
• Thyroid issues (overactive or underactive thyroid)
• Pregnancy-related high blood pressure

Malignant hypertension is extremely high blood pressure that develops rapidly and causes some type of organ damage. Malignant hypertension should be treated as a medical emergency.

In many people, high blood pressure is the main cause of malignant hypertension. Missing doses of blood pressure medications can also cause it. In addition, there are certain medical conditions that can cause it. They include:

• Collagen vascular disease, such as scleroderma
• Kidney disease
• Spinal cord injuries
• Tumor of the adrenal gland
• Use of certain medications, including birth control pills and monoamine oxidase inhibitors
• Use of illegal drugs, such as cocaine

Malignant hypertension is rare. About 1% of people who have a history of high blood pressure develop this life-threatening condition.

You are at higher risk of developing it if you are a man, African American, or someone of lower economic status. Poor access to health care increases the risk.

Malignant hypertension is a medical emergency and needs to be treated in a hospital, often in an intensive care unit. The doctor will consider your symptoms and overall health when deciding what treatment plan is best for you. The goal of treatment is to carefully lower your blood pressure within a matter of minutes.

You will receive blood pressure medicines through an IV, which is the quickest way to treat extremely high blood pressure. Once blood pressure is at a safe level, the medications may be switched to oral forms. If you develop kidney failure, you may need kidney dialysis.

Other treatments depend on your specific symptoms and possible causes of the malignant hypertension.

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Reading blood pressure readings

The only way to know if you have high or low blood pressure is to measure your blood pressure. Understanding your results is the key to controlling your blood pressure.

• Systolic blood pressure (First or top number) is the maximum pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts and pushes blood into the arteries.
• Diastolic blood pressure (Second or lower number) – shows the pressure in the arteries at the time of relaxation of the heart muscle, it reflects the resistance of the peripheral vessels.

Which number is more important?

Systolic blood pressure (first number) is generally given more attention as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease in people over 50 years of age. In most people, systolic blood pressure rises steadily with age due to the loss of elasticity of large arteries, an increase in heart rate, and the development of vascular disease.

However, elevated systolic or elevated diastolic blood pressure can be used to make a diagnosis of high blood pressure. The risk of death from coronary heart disease and stroke doubles with an increase in systolic pressure of 20 mm Hg. Art. or diastolic at 10 mm Hg. Art. among people aged 40 to 89 years.

Blood pressure ranges

In our country, the standards of the European Society for the Study of Hypertension are followed, there are also recommendations of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation from 2020, which established the following ranges of numbers:

• Normal – systolic blood pressure less than 120-129 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure less than 80-85 mmHg.
• Highly normal – systolic BP 130-139 mmHg, diastolic BP 85-89 mmHg.
• 1 degree – 140-159 / 90-99 mm Hg.
• 2 degree – 160-179 / 100-109 mm Hg.
• 3 degree – more than 180/110 mm Hg.

Note: Diagnosis must be confirmed by a physician. Hypertension is a disease or diagnosis, and hypertension is the fact of increased pressure. The doctor may also evaluate any unusually low blood pressure readings and associated symptoms.

Normal pressure

• Optimal blood pressure – SBP less than 120 mm Hg. Art. and/or DBP less than 80 mm Hg. Art.
• Normal blood pressure – pressure in the SBP range of 120-129 mmHg. Art. and/or DBP 80–84 mm Hg. Art.

If your results fall into this category, stick to heart-healthy habits such as a balanced diet and regular exercise.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure is when readings are consistently above 140 mmHg for systolic and for diastolic more than 90 mmHg Art. Measures must be taken to control this condition.

Grade 1 hypertension

Grade 1 hypertension is when blood pressure constantly fluctuates systolic within 140–159 and/or diastolic above 90–99 mmHg. Art. At this stage of high blood pressure, doctors may recommend lifestyle changes and may consider taking blood pressure medication. What you do next depends on your risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD), such as heart attack or stroke, and your risk factors.

Hypertension 2nd and 3rd degree

2nd degree hypertension is when the blood pressure is constantly at the level of 160/100 mm Hg. or higher. During these stages of high blood pressure, doctors may prescribe a combination of blood pressure medications and recommend immediate lifestyle changes.

Hypertensive crisis

This stage of high blood pressure requires medical attention. If your blood pressure reading suddenly goes over 180/120 mmHg. Art., wait five minutes, and then check your blood pressure again. If your readings are still unusually high, contact your doctor immediately. Perhaps you have a hypertensive crisis.

If your blood pressure is over 180/120 mm Hg. Art. and you are experiencing signs of possible organ damage such as chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness/weakness, vision changes or difficulty speaking, do not expect pressure relief. Call 103

Symptoms of low blood pressure

Most doctors consider chronic low blood pressure to be dangerous only if it causes noticeable signs and symptoms, such as:

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Fainting
• Dehydration and unusual thirst
• Lack of concentration
• Blurred vision
• Cold, clammy, pale skin
• Fast breathing
• Fatigue
• Depression

A single abnormal blood pressure reading is not a cause for concern unless you are experiencing any other symptoms.

Why blood pressure is measured in mmHg. Art.

Abbreviation mmHg Art. means millimeters of mercury. Mercury was used in the first accurate pressure gauges, and the unit is still used in medicine today as the standard unit for measuring pressure.

What does lower blood pressure show: what does lower blood pressure mean in a person

Blood pressure (also known as blood pressure) is the pressure that blood exerts on the walls of blood vessels. When measuring it, two types are determined: with each heartbeat, blood pressure fluctuates between the largest (systolic) and the smallest (diastolic). In colloquial speech, they are called upper and lower.

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Why do we need two indicators?

High and low pressure separation is more for doctors than for patients. But doctors do not separate them from each other, so there is no need to memorize or evaluate separately the numbers of the lower pressure – they are associated with the numbers of the upper one.

– The upper number – systolic blood pressure – shows the pressure in the arteries at the moment when the heart contracts and pushes blood into the arteries, it depends on the strength of the contraction of the heart, the resistance exerted by the walls of the blood vessels, and the number of heartbeats per unit time, – explains cardiologist Maria Benevskaya. – Therefore, in general, we can say that this indicator reflects the work of the heart, although, of course, other factors also take part in this process.

Maria Benevskaya – Associate Professor of the Department of Hospital Therapy named after. Academician P. E. Lukom Medical Faculty of the Russian National Research Medical University. N. I. Pirogova, candidate of medical sciences, cardiologist, therapist, doctor of functional diagnostics.

The lower number shows the pressure in the arteries at the time of relaxation of the heart muscle, it reflects the tone of the peripheral vessels.

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What should the lower pressure be?

As we have already said, this number should not be considered on its own, but in the context of the upper pressure.

– The ideal difference between them is within 40-50 mm Hg. Art. That is, for example, 120 to 80, 100 to 60, 110 to 70. When a patient sees deviations in the lower pressure, for example, it is very low (40, 50, 30), then this is a reason to see a doctor, because this may indicate some kind of pathology, most often cardiological, says cardiologist Natalya Gulyaeva.

Natalya Gulyaeva — cardiologist, candidate of medical sciences.

High lower blood pressure indicates that vascular tone is increased, and this carries the risk of cardiovascular complications such as stroke.

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What does it mean if the difference is more than normal?

Natalya Gulyaeva says that low lower blood pressure can be not only in the case of cardiac pathology, but also in a person who is malnourished – hunger, illness (for example, with oncological pathology or severe diseases of the gastrointestinal tract), dehydration. This may be due to the individual characteristics of the body, but in any case it is better to consult a doctor so as not to miss the disease.

— An increase in the difference may be due to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, aggravated by malnutrition of the brain (most often vertebrobasilar insufficiency). Diseases of the musculoskeletal system lead to a weakening of cerebral blood flow. Hence the problems with upper and lower pressure in general, says Maria Benevskaya.

Often, low diastolic pressure, especially in elderly patients, may indicate valvular disease. Malformations (aortic stenosis with aortic valve insufficiency) and inflammatory heart disease (endocarditis), as well as myocardial infarction, can lead to damage to the heart valves.

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What if the difference is less than the norm?

A small difference may indicate the presence of atherosclerosis of the aorta (deposition of cholesterol in the largest vessel), damage to the kidney vessels, aortic aneurysm (pathological expansion of a separate section of the aorta with the possibility of rupture or dissection of the walls due to excessive load), anemia (decrease in hemoglobin level in the blood) and many other conditions.

And this is not the whole range of pathologies that affect this parameter, so a change in the indicator can be a wake-up call in order to pay attention to your health.

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When should I measure pressure?

A lot of symptoms can indicate that the pressure is not normal: general weakness, and an unmotivated feeling of malaise, fatigue, rapid pulse, unusual tachycardia, headaches, dizziness, a feeling of fainting, impaired vision, hearing.

“You need to pay attention to these symptoms at any age, even if a child complains of headache and weakness,” says Gulyaeva. – If there are no symptoms, you still need to see a doctor once a year, because failures can be asymptomatic, but lead to serious problems later. Smokers and those who have an irregular work schedule, constant lack of sleep need to be especially careful to monitor their blood vessels. I see from my patients that this is a huge contribution to the deterioration of health.

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How to measure blood pressure at home?

If you notice that your blood pressure readings are not normal, you should see a doctor, even if you do not have any other symptoms. But first you need to prepare.

— 5-7 days you need to monitor the pressure at home, in the usual calm environment, advises Natalya Gulyaeva. – You need to measure it in the morning within half an hour after waking up in comfortable clothes and a comfortable position. Three times measured, recorded the average figure. The same thing needs to be done in the evening, not running from work or training, but in a calm home environment. This home pressure monitoring will be important for the doctor, because in the office patients often worry and give increased numbers.

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8

What else to read about health?

• Why does a blood clot form and how to avoid it;
• Is there a stroke in young people and is there any prevention;
• What tests should everyone have every year.