How to Read an Elderly Blood Pressure Reading
A blood pressure reading is two numbers, such as 128/76. It looks simple, yet it is easy to misread. Here is how to make sense of an elderly blood pressure reading.
The two numbers
- The top number (systolic) is the pressure when your heart beats. It is the number that rises most in later life.
- The bottom number (diastolic) is the pressure between beats, when your heart rests.
Both are measured in millimetres of mercury, written mmHg. Your pulse (beats per minute) may appear on the screen as well. It is a separate number.
Reading it step by step
- Look at the top number. Find the band on the chart.
- Look at the bottom number. Find its band.
- If the two bands differ, the higher one counts.
- Ask how you feel. A low number matters more if you are dizzy.
For example, 134/78 is stage 1 on the US chart because of the top number. See the full range.
One reading is not a diagnosis
Blood pressure moves all day. It rises with stress, cold, pain and caffeine, and falls with rest and heat. A single high reading is a reason to rest and measure again. A pattern over several days is what your doctor needs. Use the log to see your seven-day average.
Common mistakes that change the number
- Talking, or sitting with crossed legs
- A cuff on top of clothing
- A cuff that is the wrong size
- Measuring straight after a walk, a meal, coffee or a cigarette
- An arm hanging down instead of resting at heart level
The fix for each is in how to measure blood pressure at home.
Wrist and finger monitors
Upper-arm monitors are usually more reliable than wrist or finger devices. Bring your monitor to an appointment once so your nurse can check it against theirs.
Home readings versus the clinic
Home readings are often a little lower than clinic readings. The UK treats 135/85 at home as equal to 140/90 in clinic. See the NHS and UK guide.
Hypertension in the elderly: a simple home check routine
To check for high blood pressure at home, take two readings a minute apart, once in the morning and once in the evening, for four to seven days. This is the routine used in UK guidance. Then average the readings and take your log to your doctor. An elderly blood pressure check at home is a reason to talk to your doctor, not a diagnosis.
What to do next
If readings are normal, keep checking on a regular schedule. If they are high or low on several days, print a report and take it to your doctor. If you often feel faint, read elderly blood pressure too low and try the standing check.
This article is general information only and is not medical advice.
Check your own reading
Type your two numbers into the chart and see where they sit, in plain words.