Lower your blood pressure with regular checks and healthy habits
NHLBI says blood pressure is normal below 120/80 mm Hg, and stage 1 high blood pressure when the systolic reading is 130 to 139 or the diastolic reading is 80 to 89.
What it costs
Time to check your blood pressure regularly and make sustainable changes to your diet, activity, weight, smoking, stress, or sleep.
What you get
NHLBI's blood pressure categories are: normal, less than 120 systolic and less than 80 diastolic; elevated, 120 to 129 systolic and less than 80 diastolic; high blood pressure stage 1, 130 to 139 systolic or 80 to 89 diastolic; and high blood pressure stage 2, 140 or higher systolic or 90 or higher diastolic.
Notes
NHLBI says a healthcare provider may recommend a heart-healthy dietary pattern, physical activity, weight loss for people with overweight or obesity, quitting smoking, reducing stress, good-quality sleep, and medicines. Blood-pressure standards vary by country and clinical context; follow your local clinician's standard. This page's table also lists hypertensive crisis as higher than 180 systolic or higher than 120 diastolic and says to contact your provider immediately.