AthenaVita Resource Library
Blood Pressure: Measure It Well, Understand the Pattern
Blood pressure is often elevated without symptoms. Accurate measurement and a pattern of readings are more useful than guessing from how you feel.
PRINTABLE COMPANION
A step-by-step measurement guide and seven-day log to bring to your next appointment.
Download the measurement guide & logWhat the two numbers mean
Systolic pressure is the top number, measured when the heart contracts. Diastolic is the bottom number, measured between beats. Both matter. A classification describes the reading; a diagnosis and treatment decision require clinical assessment.
Know the adult blood pressure categories.
| Category | Reading in mm Hg |
|---|---|
| Normal | Below 120 AND below 80. |
| Elevated | 120–129 AND below 80. |
| Stage 1 | 130–139 OR 80–89. |
| Stage 2 | 140 or higher OR 90 or higher. |
When the numbers fall into different categories, use the higher category. These categories are not pregnancy thresholds.
Take a reading worth using
Choose a validated upper-arm device and the right cuff size. Avoid smoking, caffeine, and exercise for 30 minutes; empty your bladder. Rest quietly for five minutes with your back supported, feet flat, and legs uncrossed. Place the cuff on bare skin and support the arm at heart level.
Record two readings
Stay quiet and still. Take two readings at least one minute apart at the times your team recommends. A common review schedule is morning and evening for seven days. Note timing and medicines. Bring your monitor so technique and accuracy can be checked.
Understand the treatment conversation
A goal below 130/80 is recommended for many adults, with individual considerations. Medication decisions depend on average readings, cardiovascular risk, other conditions, and response to daily changes. Do not stop or adjust medicine based on one reading. A treatment goal is different from the normal-reading category.
Choose practical changes
A DASH-style eating pattern, lower sodium intake, regular activity, and reducing alcohol can help. Check packaged-food labels and ask about potassium-rich foods; kidney disease and some medicines make potassium supplements and salt substitutes inappropriate. Discuss sleep apnea if symptoms suggest it.
Use the log at your next visit
Ask for your personal goal, when to measure, what result should trigger a call, and when the plan will be reviewed. If dizziness or low readings occur during treatment, report the pattern rather than silently skipping doses.
“What goal fits me—and what should trigger a call?”
Agree on a measurement schedule and an action plan with your healthcare team.