How Is High Blood Pressure Diagnosed?
To diagnose high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, you need to have your blood pressure checked in a health care setting.
How taking blood pressure works:
- A reading is taken with a blood pressure cuff.
- The cuff is placed around the upper arm before being inflated.
- The inflated cuff squeezes the brachial artery and stops blood flow for a moment.
- Air in the cuff is slowly released. If a manual device is being used, the person taking blood pressure listens with a stethoscope. If it’s an automated device, a digital display shows the blood pressure.
Watch an animation of a manual blood pressure test. You can hear what a health care professional hears as the blood moves through the brachial artery.
Your blood pressure reading is recorded as two numbers:
- Systolic blood pressure (upper number) shows how much pressure your blood is pushing against your artery walls when the heart beats.
- Diastolic blood pressure (lower number) shows how much pressure your blood is pushing against your artery walls while the heart is resting between beats.
| BLOOD PRESSURE CATEGORY | SYSTOLIC mm Hg (upper number) | and/or | DIASTOLIC mm Hg (lower number) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NORMAL | LESS THAN 120 | and | LESS THAN 80 |
| ELEVATED | 120 – 129 | and | LESS THAN 80 |
| HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (HYPERTENSION) STAGE 1 | 130 – 139 | or | 80 – 89 |
| HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (HYPERTENSION) STAGE 2 | 140 OR HIGHER | or | 90 OR HIGHER |
| HYPERTENSIVE CRISIS (consult your doctor immediately) | HIGHER THAN 180 | and/or | HIGHER THAN 120 |
AHA recommendation
If you are 20 or older and your blood pressure is normal (less than 120/80 mm Hg), you should have your blood pressure checked once a year during regular health care visits.
If you're diagnosed with high blood pressure
Your health care professional may recommend:
- Monitoring your blood pressure at home in addition to your regular health care visits.
- A treatment plan that includes lifestyle changes and, if needed, prescription medication.
Get the high blood pressure fact sheet: English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)
