Adult Blood Pressure Categories (2025 AHA/ACC)
The 2025 AHA/ACC guideline kept the 2017 adult categories (normal, elevated, stage 1, stage 2); what changed was risk estimation, treatment timing and the 'severe hypertension' term.
Adult BP categories
| category | systolic (mm Hg) | diastolic (mm Hg) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | <120 | and | <80 |
| Elevated | 120-129 | and | <80 |
| Stage 1 hypertension | 130-139 | or | 80-89 |
| Stage 2 hypertension | >=140 | or | >=90 |
If systolic and diastolic readings fall in different categories, use the higher category.
Preview only. The full sheet also covers: What the 2025 guideline changed (not the categories); Severe BP: what the MA should know; Accurate measurement checklist.
Sources
- Jones DW, et al. 2025 AHA/ACC/AANP/AAPA/ABC/ACCP/ACPM/AGS/AMA/ASPC/NMA/PCNA/SGIM Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults. Hypertension. 2025;82(10):e212-e316 (full text not reachable; read via ACC and Merck summaries) · American Heart Association / American College of Cardiology
- New in Clinical Guidance: High Blood Pressure Focus of New ACC/AHA Guideline (Cardiology Magazine, Oct 1, 2025) · American College of Cardiology
- Table: Classification of Blood Pressure in Adults (data from the 2025 AHA/ACC guideline) · Merck Manual Professional Version
- Hypertensive Emergencies · Merck Manual Professional Version
- Blood pressure measurement (Medical Encyclopedia) · MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Clinical Nursing Skills, 15.7 Blood Pressure · OpenStax, Rice University
- Updates in the 2025 AHA/ACC Hypertension Guideline. Curr Hypertens Rep 2026 (doi:10.1007/s11906-026-01372-9) · Springer via PubMed Central