Blood pressure measures the force of blood flow through your arteries. The top number, the systolic, represents when the heart beats or contracts and pushes blood out. The bottom number, the diastolic, represents when the heart is at rest between contractions. Most people are concerned about blood pressure that gets too high. If your blood pressure gets too low, you can also have problems. If you are working to manage your blood pressure, you should know the dangerous ranges of blood pressure, both high and low.
Stage 2 Hypertension
Blood pressure is listed as a fraction, with the systolic on top and the diastolic on the bottom. For example a healthy blood pressure reading would be 120/80. The American Heart Association states that when your systolic blood pressure reading reaches 160 or higher or your diastolic pressure is 100 or higher, you have stage 2 hypertension or high blood pressure. At this point, high blood pressure is putting you at increased risk of heart disease, heart attack or stroke. AARP suggests that lowering blood pressure at this level requires at least two high blood pressure medications along with lifestyle changes.
Hypertensive Crisis
If your systolic blood pressure climbs to 180 or higher or your diastolic reaches 110 or higher, you are considered to be in a hypertensive crisis and need immediate medical attention. The Mayo Clinic states that a hypertensive crisis can be either urgent or an emergency. In an urgent situation, your high blood pressure may not cause damage to your blood vessels. If you have an emergency hypertensive crisis, you may have damage to your organs. This can lead to fluid in the lungs, seizures, a heart attack, stroke, or internal swelling or bleeding in your brain. Seek medical attention if your blood pressure reaches this level.
Hypotension
With low blood pressure, no set number is considered dangerous. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, low blood pressure is not considered unhealthy unless it is accompanied by symptoms. You need medical attention if you start to feel dizzy, suffer from fainting spells, feel nauseous, experience extreme fatigue, have trouble with your vision or develop rapid breathing. Low blood pressure can cause you to go into shock and can be life threatening. If your blood pressure drops too low, your heart, brain, kidneys, and other organs may not get the blood they need to function properly. If you have symptoms suggestive of low blood pressure, talk to your doctor about tests to determine if treatment is needed.
