What systolic and diastolic numbers actually mean, in plain language, per AHA guidance.
A blood pressure reading gives you two numbers. Here's what they mean, in plain language, based on guidance from the American Heart Association.
The top number (systolic) measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. The bottom number (diastolic) measures the pressure when your heart rests between beats.
The American Heart Association outlines general categories from normal through elevated, stage 1, stage 2, and hypertensive crisis. Because these categories and their exact thresholds can be updated, we point you to the AHA's own current guidance rather than restating numbers that could become outdated here.
A single reading is a snapshot, not the full picture. Your doctor looks at readings over time, along with your broader health history, to understand what's actually going on.
If your doctor recommends home monitoring, following their specific guidance on technique and timing matters more than any single number you see on a given day.