Blood pressure reading
Enter your reading to see what it means and what to do next.
Enter your details to see your result.
What the numbers mean
| Reading | Top number | Bottom number |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Below 90 | or below 60 |
| Normal | Below 130 | and below 85 |
| High-normal | 130 to 139 | or 85 to 89 |
| Grade 1 hypertension | 140 to 159 | or 90 to 99 |
| Grade 2 hypertension | 160 or more | or 100 or more |
| Very high | 180 or more | or 120 or more |
In mm Hg, from the International Society of Hypertension (2020). When the two numbers fall in different rows, the higher row counts. A resting pulse is usually 60 to 100 beats a minute.
How to measure correctly
- Sit with your back supported and feet flat on the floor, and rest for 5 minutes first.
- Rest your arm on a table at the level of your heart, with the cuff on bare skin.
- No tea, coffee, smoking or exercise for 30 minutes before.
- Take two readings a minute apart, without talking, and use the average.
When to see a doctor
- Your readings are 140/90 or more on two or more different days.
- Your reading is 180/120 or more: rest and measure again, and see a doctor the same day. With chest pain, breathlessness, weakness on one side, trouble speaking, blurred vision or a severe headache, call 033 4022 6000 now.
- You are pregnant and your reading is 140/90 or more.
- You feel dizzy or faint and your reading is low.
Talk to a doctor
Bring your numbers to your visit. Our doctors will explain what they mean for you and what to do next.
This tool is a guide, not a diagnosis; your doctor’s advice comes first. Nothing you type leaves your device.