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Cardiovascular Synthesis

Blood Pressure

The definitive tool for clinical documentation. Reconcile mmHg and kPa while staging hypertension with laboratory-grade precision.

Sphygmomanometric Auditor
Classification
Normal
Converted Reading
120/80 mmHg
Pulse Pressure: 40 mmHg
Classification Guide
Normal
Below 120 / below 80 mmHg
Elevated
120–129 / below 80 mmHg
Hypertension Stage 1
130–139 / 80–89 mmHg
Hypertension Stage 2
140–179 / 90–119 mmHg
Hypertensive Crisis
180+ / 120+ mmHg

Frequently Asked Questions

What do the two blood pressure numbers mean?

The top number (systolic) measures arterial pressure when the heart beats. The bottom number (diastolic) measures pressure between beats when the heart is resting.

What is normal blood pressure?

A normal blood pressure reading is below 120/80 mmHg. Readings between 120–129/80 mmHg indicate "Elevated" blood pressure, and 130+/80+ mmHg is classified as hypertension.

Why is blood pressure measured in mmHg?

mmHg stands for millimeters of mercury. It is a historical unit derived from the mercury-column manometers originally used to measure blood pressure. The SI equivalent is kilopascals (kPa), where 1 mmHg ≈ 0.133 kPa.

What is the "Rule of 5"?

Most clinical blood pressure guidelines use thresholds divisible by 5 (e.g., 120/80, 130/85, 140/90). This reflects the clinical convention of rounding readings to the nearest 2 or 5 mmHg for manual sphygmomanometers.

What is pulse pressure?

Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure. A normal pulse pressure is 40 mmHg. A wide pulse pressure (>60 mmHg) can indicate arterial stiffness.