Which guidelines does this tool use?

This tool uses the 2017 American Heart Association (AHA) / American College of Cardiology (ACC) hypertension guidelines, which lowered the Stage 1 threshold to 130/80 mmHg.

What is a normal blood pressure reading?

Normal is defined as systolic below 120 mmHg AND diastolic below 80 mmHg. Readings in this range carry the lowest cardiovascular risk.

When is a blood pressure reading an emergency?

A hypertensive crisis occurs when systolic is 180 mmHg or higher and/or diastolic is 120 mmHg or higher. Seek emergency care immediately if accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath, or vision changes.

Can I rely on a single reading?

No. Blood pressure varies throughout the day. Clinicians typically use an average of two or more readings taken on two or more occasions to diagnose hypertension. This tool is for informational purposes only.

What is the difference between systolic and diastolic?

Systolic pressure (the top number) measures arterial pressure when the heart beats. Diastolic pressure (the bottom number) measures pressure between beats when the heart is at rest.

What if systolic and diastolic fall in different categories?

Per AHA guidelines, when systolic and diastolic are in different categories, the higher category applies. This tool handles that automatically.

Does elevated blood pressure require medication?

For untreated elevated blood pressure (120–129 mmHg and <80 mmHg), lifestyle modifications are the recommended initial approach. Patients already taking blood pressure medication must consult their doctor before changing treatment.

Blood Pressure Category Checker

Enter your systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings to instantly see your AHA category and what it means for your health.

Enter Your Reading

Systolic (upper number, mmHg)

Diastolic (lower number, mmHg)

AHA 2017 Reference Chart

Category	Systolic	Diastolic
Normal	< 120	< 80
Elevated	120–129	< 80
Stage 1	130–139	80–89
Stage 2	≥ 140	≥ 90
Crisis	≥ 180	≥ 120

Enter your blood pressure reading on the left to see your category.

Summary

This tool classifies any blood pressure reading into one of the five American Heart Association (AHA) categories, ranging from Normal and slightly raised through Hypertension Stage 1, Stage 2, and Hypertensive Crisis. It uses the 2017 AHA/ACC guideline thresholds and provides brief guidance for each category. No data is sent to any server — all calculations happen in your browser.

How it works

Enter your systolic (upper) blood pressure value in mmHg.
Enter your diastolic (lower) blood pressure value in mmHg.
Click "Check Category" or press Enter.
The tool applies AHA 2017 thresholds to classify your reading.
Your category, color-coded severity, and next-step guidance are displayed instantly.

Use cases

Quickly understand what a home blood pressure reading means.
Check whether a reading falls into hypertensive crisis range before calling a doctor.
Track how readings change over time by checking each measurement.
Help patients or family members understand a clinic reading.
Use as a teaching aid for hypertension awareness.
Supplement — not replace — professional medical advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-09-30 · Reviewed by Nham Vu