How to Lower Diastolic Blood Pressure: 23 Smart Steps

You check your blood pressure and the top number looks reasonable, but the bottom number is 84, 88, 92, or even higher.

Should you worry, and what should you actually do?

Quick answer: If you want to know how to lower diastolic blood pressure, start by confirming that the reading is accurate. Then work on the same proven factors that lower overall blood pressure: a DASH style diet, less sodium, enough dietary potassium when safe, regular exercise, healthy weight, less or no alcohol, good sleep, smoking cessation, stress management, and prescribed medicine when needed.

You cannot reliably lower only the bottom number while leaving the top number untouched. Blood pressure treatment protects the whole cardiovascular system.

This article is for general information and education. It does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

What Does Diastolic Blood Pressure Mean?

Blood pressure is written as two numbers.

The systolic blood pressure is the top number. It reflects pressure in the arteries while the heart contracts.

The diastolic blood pressure is the bottom number. It reflects arterial pressure between heartbeats while the heart relaxes and fills again.

For example, in a reading of 128/86 mm Hg:

• 128 is systolic pressure
• 86 is diastolic pressure

A high bottom number can occur with a high top number or by itself.

When the diastolic number is high while systolic pressure remains below the hypertension threshold, the pattern is called isolated diastolic hypertension.

For a deeper look at this pattern, read High Diastolic Blood Pressure: Causes, Risks, and Care.

What Counts as High Blood Pressure in 2026?

The 2025 American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology guideline remains the current major United States guideline in 2026.

A person enters the higher category when either the systolic or diastolic number reaches that range.

The current ACC and AHA treatment goal is generally below 130/80 mm Hg for adults, with individual considerations in some people.

Different countries use different diagnostic thresholds. NICE in the United Kingdom, for example, confirms hypertension using clinic and home or ambulatory averages rather than exactly the same United States category system.

23 Smart Steps for How to Lower Diastolic Blood Pressure

1. Confirm That the Number Is Really High

One blood pressure reading is not enough to define your usual blood pressure.

Stress, caffeine, exercise, talking, pain, a full bladder, cold temperatures, and poor measuring technique can temporarily raise the result.

Before changing your diet, medication, or supplements, make sure you are measuring correctly.

2. Use a Validated Upper Arm Monitor

The American Heart Association recommends an automatic monitor with an upper arm cuff.

Wrist and finger devices are less reliable for routine home measurement.

Cuffless smartwatch blood pressure readings should not replace a validated cuff for diagnosis or treatment decisions.

The cuff must also fit your arm correctly.

A cuff that is too small can make blood pressure appear higher than it really is.

Read Blood Pressure Cuff Size Accuracy before assuming the monitor is correct.

3. Measure Blood Pressure the Right Way

Before checking your blood pressure:

• Avoid smoking for at least 30 minutes
• Avoid caffeine for at least 30 minutes
• Avoid exercise for at least 30 minutes
• Empty your bladder
• Sit quietly for at least five minutes
• Keep your back supported
• Keep both feet flat on the floor
• Do not cross your legs
• Support your arm at heart level
• Place the cuff on bare skin
• Do not talk during the reading

Small technique errors can create surprisingly large differences.

4. Use an Average, Not Your Highest Reading

Blood pressure changes from minute to minute.

When monitoring at home, take two readings about one minute apart and record both.

NICE recommends measuring twice daily, ideally morning and evening, for at least four days and preferably seven when home monitoring is being used to confirm hypertension.

For that diagnostic method, the first day's readings are discarded and the remaining measurements are averaged.

Your healthcare professional may recommend another schedule once treatment is established.

5. Follow a DASH Style Eating Pattern

The DASH eating plan is one of the best studied diets for blood pressure.

It emphasizes:

• Vegetables
• Fruit
• Whole grains
• Beans
• Nuts and seeds
• Low fat or fat free dairy
• Fish
• Lean poultry
• Unsaturated plant oils

It limits foods high in saturated fat, added sugar, and sodium.

NHLBI trials show that DASH lowers blood pressure, and the effect becomes greater when sodium is reduced too.

See DASH Diet for a full meal pattern.

6. Reduce Sodium

Sodium reduction is one of the clearest dietary interventions for high blood pressure.

The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day for most adults, moving toward an ideal limit of about 1,500 mg when appropriate.

You do not need to remove every grain of salt from your kitchen.

Most sodium comes from packaged, prepared, and restaurant foods.

Pay special attention to:

• Processed meat
• Instant meals
• Fast food
• Salty snacks
• Soups
• Ready made sauces
• Pickled foods
• Restaurant meals

Read labels and compare brands. Two similar foods can contain very different sodium amounts.

7. Get Potassium Mainly From Food When It Is Safe

Dietary potassium helps support normal blood pressure and is naturally high in the DASH eating pattern.

Useful sources include:

• Beans
• Lentils
• Potatoes
• Sweet potatoes
• Leafy greens
• Tomatoes
• Bananas
• Oranges
• Yogurt
• Fish

The important word is dietary.

The old version of this article advised taking potassium supplements if food intake seemed low. That is not safe advice for everyone.

Too much potassium can become dangerous in people with chronic kidney disease or in those taking medicines such as ACE inhibitors, ARBs, or potassium sparing diuretics.

Do not start potassium tablets or potassium based salt substitutes without checking whether they are safe for you.

For food options, see Potassium Rich Foods.

8. Lose Some Weight if You Have Excess Weight

You do not need to reach a perfect body weight before blood pressure can improve.

The current AHA guidance notes that losing about 5 percent of body weight can support blood pressure and overall health in adults with overweight or obesity.

A sustainable calorie deficit is better than crash dieting.

Focus on habits you can keep:

• Smaller portions
• Less ultra processed food
• More vegetables and fruit
• More home prepared meals
• Regular movement
• Enough protein and fiber

9. Get at Least 150 Minutes of Moderate Activity Each Week

Regular aerobic exercise helps lower blood pressure and improves cardiovascular fitness.

The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity per week or about 75 minutes of vigorous activity.

Examples include:

• Brisk walking
• Cycling
• Swimming
• Jogging
• Dancing

You can divide the total across the week.

If you have cardiovascular disease or have been inactive for a long time, discuss a new vigorous exercise program with your healthcare professional.

10. Include Resistance Training

Strength exercise also belongs in a blood pressure plan.

The current AHA exercise recommendations include aerobic and resistance training.

You do not need maximal weights.

A safe program can use:

• Machines
• Dumbbells
• Resistance bands
• Bodyweight exercises

Avoid holding your breath while straining.

For a detailed guide, see Blood Pressure and Strength Training.

11. Sit Less During the Day

A formal workout does not cancel an entire day of sitting.

Break up long sitting periods with short walks or light activity.

A few minutes of movement several times through the day is easier to maintain than waiting for one perfect workout.

12. Reduce or Eliminate Alcohol

The 2025 ACC and AHA guideline places greater emphasis on reducing or eliminating alcohol for blood pressure control.

If you do not drink, there is no cardiovascular reason to start.

If you choose to drink, current AHA guidance advises no more than:

• Two drinks per day for men
• One drink per day for women

Less may be better for blood pressure.

Avoid binge drinking.

13. Stop Smoking and Tobacco Use

Smoking causes an immediate rise in blood pressure and heart rate and damages arteries over time.

Stopping tobacco is one of the most important steps for reducing cardiovascular risk, even if your average diastolic number does not fall dramatically overnight.

Secondhand smoke also matters.

14. Treat Caffeine as an Individual Response

Caffeine can temporarily raise blood pressure, especially in people who do not use it regularly.

That does not mean every person with hypertension must stop coffee.

Instead, look at your own response.

If you want to test it, compare your blood pressure before caffeine and again later under consistent conditions.

Do not take caffeine immediately before a blood pressure measurement.

Read Caffeine and Blood Pressure for more detail.

15. Protect Your Sleep

Sleep and cardiovascular health are connected.

Regular poor sleep can make healthy eating, activity, weight control, and stress management harder.

A consistent sleep routine is more useful than chasing a single “blood pressure sleep hack.”

If you snore loudly, stop breathing during sleep, gasp at night, or feel extremely sleepy during the day, discuss sleep apnea with a healthcare professional.

Obstructive sleep apnea is strongly linked with hypertension, especially resistant hypertension.

See Sleep and Heart Health.

16. Manage Stress Without Treating Relaxation as Emergency Medicine

Stress can temporarily increase blood pressure and can also encourage habits that worsen hypertension, such as poor sleep, excess alcohol, inactivity, and unhealthy eating.

Useful stress tools can include:

• Walking
• Meditation
• Breathing exercises
• Yoga
• Regular sleep
• Social support
• Mental health care when needed

Slow breathing may help you relax and can temporarily affect blood pressure.

It should not be presented as a five minute cure for established hypertension or severe blood pressure elevation.

17. Manage Diabetes, Cholesterol, and Kidney Health

Blood pressure is only one part of cardiovascular risk.

Diabetes, high cholesterol, and kidney disease often occur alongside hypertension.

A strong prevention plan addresses the full picture:

• Blood glucose
• Kidney function
• Cholesterol
• Smoking
• Weight
• Physical activity
• Blood pressure

Visit the Heart and Cardiovascular Health Hub for related guides.

18. Review Medicines and Substances That Can Raise Blood Pressure

Some medicines and substances can make hypertension harder to control.

Examples can include:

• Some NSAID pain relievers
• Decongestants
• Stimulants
• Some hormonal medicines
• Selected immunosuppressive medicines
• Some recreational drugs

Do not suddenly stop prescription medicine.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether any medication could be affecting your readings.

19. Look for Secondary Hypertension When the Pattern Does Not Fit

Most hypertension is primary hypertension, meaning there is no single removable cause.

A smaller group has secondary hypertension.

Possible causes include:

• Kidney disease
• Sleep apnea
• Hormonal disorders
• Renal artery disease
• Selected medicines or substances

Evaluation becomes especially important when high blood pressure appears suddenly, is severe at a young age, becomes difficult to control, or requires several medicines.

Read Resistant Hypertension Causes if your readings stay high despite treatment.

20. Take Prescribed Blood Pressure Medicine Consistently

Lifestyle changes and medicine work together.

Do not skip doses because today's reading looks normal. The reading may be normal because the medicine is working.

Common first line antihypertensive medicine classes include:

• ACE inhibitors
• ARBs
• Calcium channel blockers
• Thiazide type diuretics

The right choice depends on age, kidney function, pregnancy status, diabetes, other conditions, side effects, and other medicines.

Never double a dose because of one high home reading unless your clinician has given you that exact plan.

21. Know When Lifestyle Alone Is No Longer Enough

The 2025 ACC and AHA guideline recommends medication in addition to lifestyle changes for adults with an average blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or higher.

Medication can also be appropriate at 130/80 mm Hg or higher when cardiovascular risk is increased by factors such as:

• Known cardiovascular disease
• Previous stroke
• Diabetes
• Chronic kidney disease
• Higher predicted cardiovascular risk

For lower risk adults with blood pressure remaining at or above 130/80 mm Hg, the guideline recommends an initial lifestyle trial and then medication if blood pressure remains elevated after about three to six months.

This is particularly relevant to isolated diastolic hypertension. An average diastolic level of 80 mm Hg or above should not simply be ignored because the systolic number looks good.

22. Do Not Build Your Treatment Around Supplements

The old version of this article recommended fixed doses of magnesium, garlic, CoQ10, hawthorn, fish oil, and potassium.

That is not the safest approach.

Some supplements have been studied for blood pressure, but effects are usually modest or inconsistent and products can interact with medicines.

Specific problems include:

• Potassium can become dangerously high in kidney disease or with certain blood pressure medicines
• Garlic products can increase bleeding risk
• Hawthorn can interact with heart medicines
• Magnesium supplements can cause side effects and are not a replacement for antihypertensive treatment
• Fish oil is not a treatment for isolated high diastolic pressure

Food first and guideline based treatment are more reliable than building a supplement stack.

23. Review Your Average and Adjust the Plan

Blood pressure care works best as a cycle:

1. Measure accurately
2. Record readings
3. Make evidence based changes
4. Take prescribed treatment consistently
5. Review the average with your healthcare professional
6. Adjust when necessary

Do not wait indefinitely if the numbers remain above target.

Can You Lower Only the Diastolic Number?

Not reliably.

This is an important point that many search results miss.

Diet, exercise, weight loss, sodium reduction, stress management, and antihypertensive medicine generally affect the entire blood pressure system.

They may lower both systolic and diastolic pressure.

The goal is not to force one number down while protecting the other from changing.

The goal is a safe overall blood pressure.

What Is Isolated Diastolic Hypertension?

Isolated diastolic hypertension means the bottom number is high while the top number is not in the hypertension range.

Under current United States categories, an example is:

124/86 mm Hg

The systolic value is below 130, but the diastolic value is in the stage 1 range.

This pattern is seen more often in younger and middle aged adults than isolated systolic hypertension.

The 2025 guideline notes that higher diastolic pressure is associated with greater cardiovascular risk and advises lifestyle intervention first in lower risk adults. For adults age 30 and older, medication is advised when average diastolic pressure remains 80 mm Hg or higher after a three to six month lifestyle trial.

Which Lifestyle Changes Have the Strongest Evidence?

How Much Sodium Should You Eat?

The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day for most adults, with an ideal goal closer to 1,500 mg for many people with high blood pressure.

NHLBI's DASH research found that reducing sodium from higher intake toward 2,300 mg and then 1,500 mg produced progressively lower blood pressure.

You do not need to reach the lower target overnight.

Even cutting about 1,000 mg from a high daily intake can be useful.

Should You Use a Potassium Salt Substitute?

Not automatically.

Potassium enriched salt can reduce sodium exposure, but the extra potassium can be dangerous in some people.

Ask before using it if you have:

• Kidney disease
• Heart failure
• Type 1 diabetes
• Adrenal disease
• A tendency toward high blood potassium

Also ask if you use:

• ACE inhibitors
• ARBs
• Spironolactone
• Other potassium sparing medicines

Does Garlic Lower Diastolic Blood Pressure?

Some garlic preparations have been studied and may produce modest blood pressure changes in some people.

That does not make garlic capsules a first line treatment for hypertension.

Garlic supplements can also interact with medicines and may increase bleeding risk.

Use garlic freely as part of normal cooking if you tolerate it. Do not replace prescribed blood pressure treatment with a concentrated supplement.

Does Magnesium Lower Diastolic Blood Pressure?

Magnesium is an essential mineral and magnesium rich foods fit well into a heart healthy diet.

That is different from recommending 400 to 500 mg of supplemental magnesium to every person with hypertension.

High supplement doses can cause diarrhea and can be unsafe with significant kidney disease.

Foods such as beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and leafy vegetables provide magnesium as part of a healthier overall diet.

What About CoQ10, Hawthorn, Fish Oil, or Hibiscus?

None should replace standard hypertension care.

Research on individual supplements and foods can be interesting, but blood pressure treatment is built around interventions with stronger and more consistent evidence.

That includes:

• Accurate measurement
• DASH style eating
• Sodium reduction
• Physical activity
• Healthy weight
• Less alcohol
• Smoking cessation
• Medication when indicated

Hibiscus tea can be enjoyed as an unsweetened drink if it fits your diet, but it should not become your treatment plan.

Do Epsom Salt Baths Lower Blood Pressure?

A warm bath may feel relaxing.

There is not good evidence that meaningful amounts of magnesium are absorbed through the skin from Epsom salts in a way that treats hypertension.

Very hot baths can also cause dizziness or a sudden blood pressure drop in some people.

Use bathing for comfort, not as antihypertensive therapy.

Read Blood Pressure Drops After a Hot Shower if heat makes you lightheaded.

Can Deep Breathing Lower Diastolic Pressure in Five Minutes?

Relaxation can sometimes reduce a temporarily elevated reading when stress or anxiety is contributing.

That is not the same as treating chronic hypertension.

If your first reading is unexpectedly high, sit quietly, correct your position, and repeat the measurement.

Do not use breathing exercises to delay care for severe hypertension or emergency symptoms.

How Quickly Can Diastolic Blood Pressure Improve?

There is no fixed timeline.

Some changes can affect blood pressure within days or weeks. Others take months.

For example:

• Correct measurement can change the number immediately
• Reducing high sodium intake can begin affecting pressure relatively quickly
• DASH trial benefits were measurable within weeks
• Weight loss takes longer
• Medication can work relatively quickly but requires follow up and adjustment

Judge progress from averages, not from whether today's number is lower than yesterday's.

When Is Diastolic Blood Pressure Too Low?

Lower is not always better.

If treatment drives your diastolic pressure unusually low and you develop:

• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Weakness
• Blurred vision
• Confusion
• Falls

contact your healthcare professional.

Do not intentionally push the bottom number as low as possible.

This becomes particularly important in older adults, people with coronary disease, and anyone whose systolic pressure remains high while the diastolic pressure is already low.

Read Low Diastolic Blood Pressure for the opposite problem.

What if Your Blood Pressure Is Higher at Night?

Blood pressure normally follows a daily rhythm.

A pattern of unexpectedly high nighttime readings may deserve investigation for sleep apnea, medication timing, kidney disease, diabetes, or other factors.

A 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor can show what happens during sleep.

See Blood Pressure Higher at Night.

What if Blood Pressure Changes a Lot During the Day?

Some variation is normal.

The concern is a repeated pattern of large swings, especially when accompanied by symptoms or when measurements are being taken inconsistently.

Before assuming the blood pressure itself is unstable, check:

• Cuff size
• Body position
• Timing
• Caffeine
• Exercise
• Pain
• Stress
• Medication timing

Read Fluctuating Blood Pressure for a full troubleshooting guide.

A Simple 7 Day Home Blood Pressure Check

Common Diastolic Blood Pressure Mistakes

Reacting to One Reading

Repeated averages are more useful than a single number.

Using the Wrong Cuff

An incorrect cuff size can distort the result.

Checking Right After Coffee or Exercise

Both can temporarily affect blood pressure.

Taking Potassium Without Checking Kidney Function or Medicines

This can cause dangerous hyperkalemia.

Replacing Medicine With Supplements

Supplements are not a substitute for guideline based treatment.

Trying to Lower Blood Pressure in Five Minutes

Chronic hypertension needs a long term plan.

Stopping Medicine When the Number Looks Better

The treatment may be the reason it looks better.

Ignoring Sleep Apnea

Untreated sleep apnea can make blood pressure harder to control.

Focusing Only on Diastolic Pressure

Both numbers and your overall cardiovascular risk matter.

Conclusion

Learning how to lower diastolic blood pressure starts with something more basic than supplements or home remedies: make sure the number is real.

Use a validated upper arm monitor, the correct cuff, good measuring technique, and repeated readings. Then focus on the interventions with the strongest evidence: DASH style eating, less sodium, safe dietary potassium, regular exercise, healthy weight, less alcohol, smoking cessation, better sleep, and consistent prescribed treatment.

If your diastolic pressure remains at or above 80 mm Hg despite lifestyle changes, discuss your overall cardiovascular risk and treatment options with a healthcare professional. If readings rise above 180/120 mm Hg or you develop chest pain, breathing difficulty, weakness, vision change, or trouble speaking, follow urgent medical guidance rather than trying another home remedy.

References and Sources

1. American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology. 2025 High Blood Pressure Guideline.The current major United States guideline covering blood pressure categories, treatment goals, PREVENT cardiovascular risk, lifestyle therapy, medication thresholds, isolated diastolic elevation, home monitoring, and severe hypertension.https://professional.heart.org/en/science-news/2025-high-blood-pressure-guideline/top-things-to-know
2. American Heart Association. Home Blood Pressure Monitoring.Current guidance on validated upper arm monitors, cuff size, resting before measurement, caffeine and exercise timing, body position, repeat readings, and recording results.https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings/monitoring-your-blood-pressure-at-home
3. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. DASH Eating Plan.Updated 2026 NIH guidance on the DASH diet, vegetables, fruit, whole grains, dairy, lean proteins, sodium targets, and heart healthy food choices.https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dash-eating-plan
4. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Health Benefits of DASH.NIH summary of the DASH and DASH Sodium trials showing blood pressure reductions from the dietary pattern and progressively lower sodium intake.https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dash/health-benefits
5. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Hypertension in Adults: Diagnosis and Management.Current recommendations for clinic, ambulatory, and home blood pressure measurement, including the use of repeated morning and evening home readings to confirm hypertension.https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng136/chapter/recommendations
6. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Potassium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.Authoritative guidance on dietary potassium, potassium supplements, salt substitutes, kidney disease, hyperkalemia, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and potassium sparing diuretics.https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Potassium-HealthProfessional/
7. American Heart Association. Getting Active to Control High Blood Pressure.Guidance on aerobic activity, resistance exercise, reducing sedentary time, and gradually increasing activity for cardiovascular health.https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/changes-you-can-make-to-manage-high-blood-pressure/getting-active-to-control-high-blood-pressure

Internal Links + Hub

• Heart and Cardiovascular Health Hub
• High Diastolic Blood Pressure
• Low Diastolic Blood Pressure
• High Blood Pressure
• What Causes High Blood Pressure?
• How to Lower Blood Pressure
• DASH Diet
• Blood Pressure Cuff Size Accuracy
• Fluctuating Blood Pressure
• Blood Pressure and Strength Training
• Caffeine and Blood Pressure
• Blood Pressure Higher at Night
• Sleep and Heart Health
• Resistant Hypertension Causes
• Potassium Rich Foods

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Lower Diastolic Blood Pressure

What is the fastest safe way to lower diastolic blood pressure?

There is no safe home trick that permanently lowers chronic hypertension in minutes. First measure correctly and repeat an unexpectedly high reading. Long term control comes from sodium reduction, DASH style eating, physical activity, healthy weight, less alcohol, good sleep, and medication when needed.

What diastolic blood pressure is considered high?

Under current ACC and AHA categories, diastolic pressure from 80 to 89 mm Hg is stage 1 hypertension and 90 mm Hg or higher is stage 2 hypertension. Diagnosis should be based on repeated measurements rather than one isolated reading.

Can the bottom blood pressure number be high when the top number is normal?

Yes. This is called isolated diastolic hypertension. Current guidance recommends lifestyle treatment and assessment of overall cardiovascular risk rather than ignoring the bottom number simply because systolic pressure is below 130 mm Hg.

Can I lower only my diastolic blood pressure?

Not reliably. Lifestyle changes and blood pressure medicines generally affect the entire circulation and can lower both systolic and diastolic pressure. Treatment should target a healthy overall blood pressure rather than one number in isolation.

Does the DASH diet lower diastolic blood pressure?

Yes. DASH is one of the best studied eating patterns for lowering blood pressure. Its effect is stronger when combined with lower sodium intake.

How much sodium should I eat if I have high blood pressure?

The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day for most adults, moving toward an ideal limit near 1,500 mg when appropriate. Individual needs can differ.

Should I take potassium supplements to lower diastolic pressure?

Not without medical advice. Dietary potassium can support blood pressure, but supplements and potassium based salt substitutes can cause dangerous potassium levels in people with kidney disease or those taking certain medicines.

Can walking lower diastolic blood pressure?

Yes. Brisk walking counts as moderate aerobic activity. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate activity each week as part of blood pressure management.

Does strength training help high blood pressure?

Yes. Resistance training can be part of a blood pressure friendly exercise program. Start gradually, use good technique, and avoid holding your breath during heavy effort.

Can deep breathing lower my diastolic number instantly?

Slow breathing can reduce stress and may lower a temporarily elevated reading, but it does not cure chronic hypertension and should never delay medical care for severe blood pressure or emergency symptoms.

When does high diastolic blood pressure need medication?

Current ACC and AHA guidance recommends medication for adults with average blood pressure of at least 140/90 mm Hg and for selected adults at lower thresholds based on cardiovascular risk. Lower risk adults who remain at or above 130/80 mm Hg after three to six months of lifestyle changes may also need medication.

When is high blood pressure an emergency?

A blood pressure above 180/120 mm Hg with chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, numbness, vision change, trouble speaking, severe back pain, or another sign of organ injury needs emergency medical care. Persistently severe readings without those symptoms still require prompt professional evaluation.