AHA blood pressure categories

The American Heart Association sorts adult blood pressure into these population-level zones:

• Normal: below 120 and below 80
• Elevated: 120 to 129 and below 80
• Stage 1 hypertension: 130 to 139, or 80 to 89
• Stage 2 hypertension: 140 or above, or 90 or above
• Severe hypertension: above 180 and/or above 120

A reading above 180 and/or 120 with no symptoms is a reason to call your doctor; with symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, or trouble speaking it’s a hypertensive emergency: call your local emergency number (911 in the US).

These are reference ranges for the general adult population. If your doctor has given you a personal target range, that range governs the color you see across attensio; AHA is shown as a secondary label. Talk to your doctor about what zone matters for you.

Sources

• American Heart Association: Understanding Blood Pressure Readings

Part of attensio's Learn reference. attensio is a personal wellness journal, not a medical device, and never offers medical advice.