About this tool
The Blood Pressure Category Checker is a free, in-browser tool that classifies a systolic/diastolic reading under the two major guideline systems side by side: the US ACC/AHA 2017 categories (normal, elevated, stage 1, stage 2, crisis) and the European ESC/ESH grades (optimal through grade 3 hypertension). Your reading's row is highlighted in each table, so you can see at a glance how the same numbers are labeled differently on each side of the Atlantic.
Classification follows the standard rule that the higher of the two values decides the category. If you enter a reading of 180/120 mmHg or more, the tool shows a prominent warning, because guidelines treat such readings as a possible hypertensive crisis needing immediate medical attention. A single reading is also not a diagnosis — categories are meant to be applied to properly measured, repeated readings. Everything runs locally in your browser.
This tool is informational only — it is not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
Why do the US and European categories differ?
The ACC/AHA 2017 guideline lowered the hypertension threshold to 130/80 mmHg, while ESC/ESH guidelines keep 140/90 mmHg as the treatment-defining threshold with optimal/normal/high-normal bands below it — the same reading can therefore be "stage 1 hypertension" in the US and "high-normal" in Europe.
What if my systolic and diastolic fall in different rows?
Both systems assign the higher of the two categories, so 135/95 mmHg is stage 2 under ACC/AHA (diastolic ≥90) and grade 1 under ESC/ESH.
What should I do about a reading of 180/120 or higher?
Guidelines say to relax for a few minutes and re-measure; if it is still that high, or you have symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, vision changes or weakness, seek immediate medical care.
Is this a diagnosis or medical advice?
No. Hypertension is diagnosed by a clinician from repeated, properly taken measurements (often out-of-office monitoring); this checker only shows where one reading falls in the published tables and is informational only.
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