HeartCheck

Blood Pressure Calculator

Enter your reading — see where it falls on the AHA blood-pressure chart.

Systolic (top number)

Diastolic (bottom number)

Blood pressure category

Hypertension Stage 1

Recommendation: Lifestyle changes recommended; medication may be needed

What you entered

Systolic: 120 mmHgDiastolic: 80 mmHg

1
Systolic reading
120 mmHg= Elevated (120–129)
2
Diastolic reading
80 mmHg= Stage 1 (80–89)
3
Overall category (higher reading wins)
120/80 mmHg= Hypertension Stage 1

Result

Category: Hypertension Stage 1

A reading of 120/80 mmHg is classified as "Hypertension Stage 1" by the American Heart Association. Lifestyle changes recommended; medication may be needed.

What each blood pressure reading is classified as

Every row is a systolic over diastolic pair run through the same AHA thresholds the calculator uses. The higher of the two numbers decides the category, which is why 124/82 lands in Stage 1 while 128/79 is still only Elevated.

Reading (mmHg)	Category	What it means
110/70	Normal	Maintain healthy lifestyle
118/76	Normal	Maintain healthy lifestyle
122/78	Elevated	Risk of developing hypertension without lifestyle changes
128/79	Elevated	Risk of developing hypertension without lifestyle changes
124/82	Hypertension Stage 1	Lifestyle changes recommended; medication may be needed
132/84	Hypertension Stage 1	Lifestyle changes recommended; medication may be needed
138/88	Hypertension Stage 1	Lifestyle changes recommended; medication may be needed
145/92	Hypertension Stage 2	Medication likely needed alongside lifestyle changes
160/100	Hypertension Stage 2	Medication likely needed alongside lifestyle changes
185/125	Hypertensive Crisis	Seek emergency care immediately

Thresholds follow the 2017 AHA/ACC chart: Normal below 120/80, Elevated at systolic 120 to 129 with diastolic under 80, Stage 1 at 130 to 139 or 80 to 89, Stage 2 at 140 or above or 90 or above, and crisis above 180/120. One reading diagnoses nothing. Hypertension is diagnosed from repeated readings on separate occasions, and readings run higher in a clinic than at home. A reading above 180/120 with chest pain, shortness of breath, or vision changes needs emergency care, not a calculator.

What the two numbers mean

Systolic (top number) measures the pressure when your heart beats; diastolic (bottom number) measures pressure between beats. Normal is below 120/80 mmHg. Elevated is 120-129/<80. Stage 1 hypertension is 130-139 or 80-89. Stage 2 is ≥140 or ≥90.

Why silent high blood pressure is dangerous

About 1 in 3 U.S. adults has high blood pressure, and nearly half don't know it because it has no symptoms. Over time it damages arteries, increasing risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. Regular monitoring and lifestyle changes (less sodium, more exercise) are the first line of defense.

Frequently asked questions

What is a normal blood pressure reading?

Normal: below 120/80 mmHg. Elevated: 120–129 / <80. Stage 1 hypertension: 130–139 / 80–89. Stage 2: ≥140 / ≥90. Hypertensive crisis: >180 / >120 (seek medical attention). A single high reading doesn't mean hypertension — it's diagnosed from consistently elevated readings across multiple visits.

How can I lower my blood pressure naturally?

Evidence-backed approaches: reduce sodium to <2,300 mg/day (ideally <1,500 mg), exercise 150 min/week (lowers BP by 5–8 mmHg), maintain healthy weight (each kg lost ≈ 1 mmHg drop), limit alcohol to 1 drink/day, eat potassium-rich foods (bananas, potatoes, spinach), manage stress, and follow the DASH diet.

When should I see a doctor about blood pressure?

If readings are consistently above 130/80 on multiple occasions. Seek immediate care if readings exceed 180/120 with symptoms (headache, chest pain, vision changes, difficulty breathing). Get regular screenings: every 2 years if normal, annually if elevated. Home monitoring is valuable — take readings at the same time each day.