Blood Pressure Calculator

Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of the arteries. It is written as systolic over diastolic, in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Systolic is the pressure when the heart beats; diastolic is the pressure when the heart rests between beats.

American Heart Association adult categories: 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), Hypertensive crisis (systolic above 180 AND/OR diastolic above 120).

No. A single reading can be affected by stress, caffeine, exercise, cuff fit, and how you are sitting. Clinicians look at multiple readings over time, taken under similar conditions, and may also use home or ambulatory monitoring. Use this calculator as a category check for one reading at a time, not as a diagnosis.

Systolic above 180 mmHg and/or diastolic above 120 mmHg. Wait one minute and retake. If still that high, contact a clinician. If symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, vision changes, or trouble speaking are present, call emergency services right away.

No. Children, teens, and pregnant people have different reference ranges. For pediatric blood pressure use age-, sex-, and height-adjusted percentile tables. For pregnancy, talk to a clinician about your specific reference range and any monitoring plan.

Activity level, salt intake, weight, alcohol use, sleep, stress, smoking, and medications all influence blood pressure. Some changes (more activity, less sodium, more sleep) move readings down for many people. Discuss any changes with a clinician, especially if you take medications.