Blood Pressure 249 over 86 - what do these values mean?
No. 249/86 is in the range of hypertension stage 3 (grade 3). Sit quietly for 5 minutes and measure again; if it stays this high, act now — see below.
- International (ESH)Hypertension stage 3
- US guideline (AHA/ACC)Severe hypertension
- Pulse pressure163 mmHg
- Mean arterial pressure140 mmHg
What to do now
- Sit quietly for 5 minutes and measure again.
- Still at 180/110 or higher AND chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness or weakness, vision or speech problems, confusion or a severe headache? Call 911 (US) or your local emergency number — this can be a hypertensive emergency.
- Still this high without symptoms? Contact your doctor the same day. Do not take extra doses of medication on your own.
The systolic (upper) number decides: on its own your diastolic value of 86 would be high normal. When the two numbers fall into different categories, the higher one counts. This pattern — high systolic, normal or low diastolic — is called isolated systolic hypertension and is common after 50.
Blood pressure 249/86 on the blood pressure chart
- Low blood pressure
- Ideal (optimal)
- Normal
- High normal
- Hypertension stage 1
- Hypertension stage 2
- Hypertension stage 3
Read more about this category: Hypertension stage 3.
International and US categories
| Category | Systolic / diastolic (mmHg) | US (AHA/ACC) |
|---|---|---|
| Ideal (optimal) | < 120 and < 80 | Normal |
| Normal | 120–129 and/or 80–84 | Elevated / stage 1 |
| High normal | 130–139 and/or 85–89 | Stage 1 |
| Hypertension stage 1 | 140–159 and/or 90–99 | Stage 2 |
| Hypertension stage 2 | 160–179 and/or 100–109 | Stage 2 |
| Hypertension stage 3 | ≥ 180 and/or ≥ 110 | Stage 2 / severe > 180/120 |
| Low blood pressure | systolic < 90 or diastolic < 60, the other number not raised | Low |
International categories: European Society of Hypertension (ESH) 2023, office readings. Home readings use lower thresholds — hypertension from an average of 135/85. A reading with one raised and one low number counts by the raised one.
Pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure
A pulse pressure of 163 mmHg is wide (above 60). In older adults it usually reflects stiffer arteries. Mean arterial pressure — the average pressure perfusing your organs — is about 140 mmHg. That is raised (above 100; typical range about 70–100).
Measure it right
- No caffeine, exercise or smoking for 30 minutes; empty your bladder.
- Sit with back supported, feet flat, for 5 minutes. Don't talk.
- Upper-arm cuff of the right size on bare skin, arm supported at heart level.
- Two readings a minute apart, morning and evening, for 7 days — use the average.
Details: Measuring Blood Pressure Correctly: Step by Step
Check another reading
Nearby readings
Sources: ESH 2023 guideline (international categories) · AHA/ACC 2025 guideline (US categories, unchanged from 2017) · MedlinePlus: High blood pressure. Reviewed by the BloodPressureOK editorial team · last reviewed October 25, 2026.
This page explains one reading in general terms. High blood pressure is diagnosed from repeated measurements. Not medical advice — talk to your doctor about your readings.