Some number over some other number… To many, that’s what it sounds like when the nurse, doctor, or other medical professional announces their blood pressure reading. It’s like listening to someone as they tell you something important, but they are telling it to you in another language that you don’t understand.
Whether it’s for your yearly check-up, a pre-op appointment, or any other type of medical appointment, it’s common to feel out of tune with the blood pressure segment of the appointment if you don’t know what the numbers mean.
To help add some clarity, we’re looking at what the numbers in the blood pressure reading mean and explaining why your blood pressure levels matter so much to your heart health.
What Are the Two Numbers in a Blood Pressure Reading?
When a nurse, doctor, or other healthcare professional takes your blood pressure, they are evaluating your blood pressure levels by looking at two specific numbers. The first reveals your systolic blood pressure, and the second reveals your diastolic blood pressure.
Each number represents the amount of pressure (measured in millimeters of mercury—mmHg) placed on your artery walls when the heart contracts (the systole phase) and relaxes (the diastole phase).
Systolic Blood Pressure
Systolic blood pressure is the pressure that your blood puts on your artery walls with every heartbeat, or when your heart contracts and pushes blood from your heart’s chambers to your arteries.
This is the first number in the blood pressure reading and can range from less than 120 mmHg to more than 180 mmHg.
A healthy, normal systolic blood pressure reading is less than 120. A reading that is 120 or higher indicates an unhealthy blood pressure level that can range from:
- Elevated (120–129)
- High (130–139) (hypertension stage 1)
- Dangerously high (140–180) (hypertension stage 2)
- Life-threateningly high (180+) (hypertensive crisis)
Diastolic Blood Pressure
Your diastolic blood pressure reveals the amount of pressure your blood is putting against your artery walls in its relaxed state between heartbeats.
This is the second number in your reading and can range from less than 80 mmHg to more than 120 mmHg.
A healthy, normal diastolic blood pressure reading is less than 80. A reading that is 80 or higher indicates an unhealthy blood pressure level that can range from:
- Elevated (still less than 80 with a systolic BP reading of 120 or higher)
- High (80-89) (hypertension stage 1)
- Dangerously high (90-119) (hypertension stage 2)
- Life-threateningly high (120+) (hypertensive crisis)
Does One Number Matter More Than the Other?
Both of the numbers in your blood pressure reading matter because they each provide insight into the state of your arteries and your heart health. If your numbers reveal that your blood pressure is high, it could mean heart disease or heart failure is on the horizon, especially if your high blood pressure goes untreated or unmanaged.
That said, your systolic reading does provide more insight into your heart health and most conditions will elevate your systolic pressure levels before you diastolic pressure climbs. For instance, you may have noticed that in an elevated blood pressure reading, there can still be a healthy diastolic reading of less than 80—it’s the systolic reading between 120 and 129 that reveals the blood pressure is out of the normal or healthy range.
Something else to note about the systolic reading is that it tends to rise with age. This is due to several factors, including:
- Artery walls tend to stiffen as we get older.
- Older people are prone to more plaque buildup on their artery walls.
- Age brings with it a higher likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases and complications.
What Are the Various Stages or Levels of Blood Pressure?
There are six blood pressure levels you can have:
Low (Hypotension)
A reading of >90 over >60 means that not enough pressure is being placed on your artery walls. Low blood pressure can be an acute or chronic condition and can accompany certain medical conditions such as heart problems, anemia, thyroid issues, hormone imbalances, kidney issues, diabetes, and others.
Normal
A reading of <120 over <80 means your blood pressure level is normal and your heart and cardiovascular system are in a good state.
Elevated
A reading of 120-129 over <80 means your blood pressure level is elevated. While elevated does not mean you’ve reached hypertension, it means your blood pressure is on the rise. It’s important to work on lowering your blood pressure to bring it back down to a normal state.
Hypertension Stage 1
A reading of 130-139 over 80-89 means that your blood pressure level has reached the first stage of hypertension. This is a bad state for your heart and overall health. Hypertension can lead to numerous cardiovascular conditions or diseases, as well as other health complications. Lifestyle changes like a better diet and more exercise can help lower this back down to an elevated or, ideally, normal level.
Hypertension Stage 2
A reading of 140 or higher over 90-119 means your blood pressure has reached hypertension stage 2, further increasing your risk of developing heart disease, suffering a heart attack, and experiencing other dangerous health complications. Blood pressure medication and serious lifestyle changes can help correct this and lower your blood pressure back down to healthier levels.
Hypertensive Crisis
A reading that is 180+ over 120+ means you are at crisis levels and you require immediate medical attention. Contact your doctor immediately, or call 911 if you are also experiencing symptoms of a heart attack:
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing
- Back, neck, or arm pain
- Numbness or weakness in the body
- Vision trouble
Why Does Understanding My Blood Pressure Level Matter?
When your blood pressure is high, meaning you have hypertension, it can quickly or eventually lead to issues like:
- Heart disease
- Coronary artery disease
- Valvular heart disease
- Vascular disease
- Congestive heart failure
And more.
Monitoring your blood pressure and catching its rise early can help you ensure your blood pressure does not reach dangerous levels. Understanding your reading gives you the power to control your blood pressure and take better charge of your heart health and overall health.
Have more questions about your blood pressure reading or your blood pressure in general? Talk to the cardiologists at Middle Georgia Heart!
Our heart doctors are here to offer information, advice, and medical solutions to help you monitor and control your blood pressure. It’s our goal to help patients achieve and maintain their heart health now and in the future.
Schedule an appointment with our heart specialists today: 478-207-5224
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