According to the American Heart Association, a blood pressure reading of 175/98 would be consideredstage 2 high blood pressure (hypertension). Stage 2 high blood pressure (hypertension) is defined by a systolic reading (the top number) between 140-179 or a diastolic reading (the bottom number) between 90-119.
Okay, now you know how to classify a blood pressure of 175/98, but now what do you do with that information? Read on to learn more or look up another blood pressure reading.
What is a good blood pressure reading?
According to the American Heart Association, a normal blood pressure reading is lower than 120/80. While there is no specific number for low blood pressure, most experts say blood pressure is too low when it causes symptoms or drops suddenly. In general, though, low blood pressure can be considered anything under 90/60.
More information about a blood pressure reading of 175/98
A blood pressure reading of 175/98 is pronounced "175 over 98." You may also see it written colloquially as 175/98 bp.
In a blood pressure reading of 175/98, 175 is called the systolic number and 98 is called the diastolic number. Systolic refers to the part of the cardiac cycle in which the heart contracts and pumps blood from the chambers into the arteries, and diastolic refers to the part of the cardiac cycle in which the heart relaxes and allows the chambers to fill with blood. You may also hear the systolic and diastolic numbers referred to as the top number and the bottom number.
Systolic and diastolic readings are measured in mmHg, which is a unit of pressure equal to the pressure that can support a column of mercury 1 millimeter high. Hg is the chemical symbol for mercury. For a blood pressure reading of 175/98, you would pronounce it "175 over 98 millimeters of mercury."
How do you measure blood pressure?
In a doctor's office, blood pressure is traditionally taken manually by a doctor or nurse with a sphygmomanometer. A sphygmomanometer is a medical instrument with an inflatable cuff and pressure meter or dial. The sphygmomanometer is placed snugly around the upper arm and is inflated by hand, and the doctor or nurse listens to the brachial artery with a stethoscope as they gradually reduce the pressure of the cuff. When the whooshing sound of blood is first heard through the stethoscope, the doctor or nurse makes note of the reading on the pressure meter. This indicates the systolic blood pressure reading. When the sound disappears, the reading on the pressure meter indicates the diastolic pressure reading.
Blood pressure can also be taken at home using a number of a digital devices. They typically consist of an inflatable cuff and digital display and simply work by placing the cuff around the upper arm and pressing a button, after which the cuff inflatess, deflates, and displays a reading. The most popular blood pressure machines for home use are made by Omron, Beurer, and Paramed, amongst many others.
One thing to keep in mind is that blood pressure can vary by time of day and activity level, so if you're taking it at home it's important to check it around the same time each day and rest for a few minutes ahead of time to limit as many variables as possible. It can also be affected by eating.
Blood pressure tends to rise in the hours before waking and then drop in the afternoon and evening before dropping to its lowest point while sleeping, so one popular recommendation is to check it just after waking up and just before bed to identify trends in how it varies from morning until night. Because of this, you might find that if your blood pressure is 175/98 in the morning, it might be lower before bed, and vice versa. Of course, these are just general rules of thumb and may vary by the individual.
Relevant HSA expenses
If you have an HSA as part of your health insurance plan, you'll be pleased to find that blood pressure monitors, blood pressure cuffs, and wrist blood pressure monitors are all eligible, including smart blood pressure monitors like the offerings from Qardio and Withings.
How the heck do you pronounce sphygmomanometer?
Sphygmomanometer is pronounced sfig-moh-muh-'nah-mi-ter. Easy!
Explore blood pressure readings similar to 175/98
The following table shows related blood pressure readings because sometimes just one number can make all the difference.
Please note that if a field is blank, it's not an accident—it simply means a record doesn't exist for that particular blood pressure. This could be because going forward or backward would create a blood pressure reading that wouldn't make sense, or because that blood pressure simply doesn't exist in our records.
| ← Prev systolic num | Next systolic num → |
| 174/98 blood pressure | 176/98 blood pressure |
| ← Prev diastolic num | Next diastolic num → |
| 175/97 blood pressure | 175/99 blood pressure |
Sources
Disclaimer
The information on this page is intended to be an educational reference and is not to be taken as medical advice. If you think you're having a hypertensive or hypotensive emergency, or if you're having any kind of medical emergency, please call 911 immediately.
FAQs
Normal pressure is 120/80 or lower. Your blood pressure is considered high (stage 1) if it reads 130 to 139 mmHg/80 to 89 mmHg. Stage 2 high blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. If you get a blood pressure reading of 180/120 or higher more than once, seek medical treatment right away.
What is a stroke level blood pressure? ›
Call 911 or emergency medical services if your blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or greater and you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or symptoms of stroke. Stroke symptoms include: Numbness or tingling. Loss of feeling in the face, arm or leg, often on just one side of the body.
What is an alarming diastolic number? ›
Even higher blood pressure (with the systolic blood pressure 180 or higher, the diastolic blood pressure more than 120, or both) is called a hypertensive urgency if there are no related symptoms. Or it's called a hypertensive emergency if there are symptoms indicating damage to the brain, heart, or kidneys.
What should I do if my blood pressure is 175 over 118? ›
Hypertensive crisis is very high blood pressure that happens without warning. Your reading can be 180/120 millimeters of mercury or higher. If this happens, take it seriously and call for help immediately. Without treatment for this dangerous condition, you can have life-limiting issues with your heart, lung or brain.
What is a dangerously low bottom number for blood pressure? ›
That paper coined a new term, “isolated diastolic hypotension,” which refers to a low diastolic blood pressure (less than 60 mm Hg) and a normal systolic pressure (above 100 mm Hg). Older adults who fit those conditions are at increased risk for developing new-onset heart failure, the researchers found.
Can 170 BP cause a stroke? ›
A high blood pressure reading above 130/80 mm Hg can increase the risk of stroke. Elevated blood pressure can cause various physiological changes, such as damage to the blood vessels of the brain and bleeding in the brain. These changes can cause ischemic or hemorrhagic strokes or strokes due to small vessel disease.
What is the danger zone for blood pressure? ›
If your systolic is over 180 or your diastolic is above over 120, you may be having a hypertensive crisis, which can lead to a stroke, heart attack, or kidney damage. Rest for a few minutes and take your blood pressure again. If it's still that high, call 911.
At what diastolic should I go to hospital? ›
Call 911 if your blood pressure is 180/120 or higher and you are experiencing symptoms that may include: Chest pain. Shortness of breath.
When should you worry about the bottom number of blood pressure? ›
The researchers found that among those with systolic blood pressure less than 130, a diastolic blood pressure of less than 60 mm Hg was linked to more heart attacks and strokes. However, those with diastolic values between 70 and 80 mm Hg had the lowest risk of heart disease.
How can I bring my BP down quickly? ›
Tricks to Lower Blood Pressure Instantly
- Meditate or focus on deep breathing. Meditation and breathing exercises can help you relax, which slows your heart rate and lowers your blood pressure.
- Reduce your stress levels. ...
- Take a warm bath or shower.
Stage 2 high blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. If you get a blood pressure reading of 180/120 or higher more than once, seek medical treatment right away. A reading this high is considered “hypertensive crisis.” Readings between 120/80 and 129/89 are considered pre-hypertension.
How do you feel when BP is high? ›
Moderate or severe headaches, anxiety, shortness of breath, nosebleeds, palpitations, or feeling of pulsations in the neck are some signs of high blood pressure. Often, these are late signs that high blood pressure has existed for some time, therefore annual checks are recommended for all adults.
What brings blood pressure down in minutes? ›
If your blood pressure is elevated and you want to see an immediate change, lie down and take deep breaths. This is how you lower your blood pressure within minutes, helping to slow your heart rate and decrease your blood pressure. When you feel stress, hormones are released that constrict your blood vessels.
What is the danger zone for diastolic? ›
High diastolic blood pressure: Causes & Treatment
The normal range of diastolic pressure should be 60 to 80 mmHg in adults. Anything above this is considered abnormal (hypertension). However, when blood pressure readings are above 180/120 mmHg, they are dangerous and require immediate medical attention.
What are the two worst blood pressure medications? ›
5 of the worst blood pressure medications
- Beta blockers. Usually, beta blockers aren't used as first-choice therapies to lower blood pressure. ...
- Loop diuretics. Furosemide (Lasix) is a type of diuretic (water pill) known as a loop diuretic. ...
- Alpha blockers. ...
- Vasodilators. ...
- Alpha-2 agonists.
If low blood pressure causes a person to pass out (become unconscious), seek treatment right away. Or call 911 or the local emergency number. If the person is not breathing or has no pulse, begin CPR.
What is the BP cut off for stroke? ›
In acute intraparenchymal hemorrhage of the brain (IPH), it is reasonable to lower BP to a systolic level of 140–150 or up to 160 mm Hg. For both first and recurrent stroke prevention it is reasonable to aim for a BP target of <130/80 mm Hg based on the recent data.
Should I go to the hospital if my blood pressure is 140 over 90? ›
Normal pressure is 120/80 or lower. Your blood pressure is considered high (stage 1) if it reads 130 to 139 mmHg/80 to 89 mmHg. Stage 2 high blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. If you get a blood pressure reading of 180/120 or higher more than once, seek medical treatment right away.
What pulse pressure is a stroke risk? ›
Pulse pressures of 50 mmHg or more can increase your risk of: Heart disease. Heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmia). Stroke.
What is stroke volume blood pressure? ›
Stroke volume is the difference between end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes; it is the volume ejected with each heart beat. The normal range is 50 to 100 ml.
