A blood pressure reading has two numbers. The top one (systolic) is the pressure when your heart beats; the bottom one (diastolic) is the pressure between beats.
What the numbers mean
- Normal: below 120/80
- Elevated: 120–129 over less than 80
- High, stage 1: 130–139 or 80–89
- High, stage 2: 140/90 or higher
One high reading does not mean you have high blood pressure. What matters is the average over several days, measured correctly.
How to measure at home
- Sit quietly for five minutes with your back supported and feet flat
- Rest your arm on a table at heart level
- Take two readings a minute apart, morning and evening, for a week
- Write them down and bring the list to your visit
A reading above 180/120 with chest pain, breathlessness or weakness is an emergency — call 999.
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