Blood Pressure 163 Over 50–160: Which Are OK?
With an upper value of 163, the answer depends on your lower number. Here are all readings, sorted by what they mean.
On its own, a systolic (upper) value of 163 mmHg is Hypertension stage 2 by the international categories (2023 ESH guideline) and Stage 2 hypertension under the 2025 AHA/ACC guideline. The worse of your two numbers decides the category, so a raised diastolic (lower) value moves a 163 reading up: from 163/110 it counts as stage 3. Readings below 163/103 have a pulse pressure above 60 mmHg — a wide gap that is common after 60 and worth mentioning to your doctor.
Hypertension stage 2 163/50 to 163/109
- 163/50
- 163/60
- 163/61
- 163/62
- 163/63
- 163/64
- 163/65
- 163/66
- 163/67
- 163/68
- 163/69
- 163/70
- 163/71
- 163/72
- 163/73
- 163/74
- 163/75
- 163/76
- 163/77
- 163/78
- 163/79
- 163/80
- 163/81
- 163/82
- 163/83
- 163/84
- 163/85
- 163/86
- 163/87
- 163/88
- 163/89
- 163/90
- 163/91
- 163/92
- 163/93
- 163/94
- 163/95
- 163/96
- 163/97
- 163/98
- 163/99
- 163/100
- 163/101
- 163/102
- 163/103
- 163/104
- 163/105
- 163/106
- 163/107
- 163/108
- 163/109
Hypertension stage 3 163/110 to 163/160
- 163/110
- 163/111
- 163/112
- 163/113
- 163/114
- 163/115
- 163/116
- 163/117
- 163/118
- 163/119
- 163/120
- 163/121
- 163/122
- 163/123
- 163/124
- 163/125
- 163/126
- 163/127
- 163/128
- 163/129
- 163/130
- 163/131
- 163/132
- 163/133
- 163/134
- 163/135
- 163/136
- 163/137
- 163/138
- 163/139
- 163/140
- 163/141
- 163/142
- 163/143
- 163/144
- 163/145
- 163/146
- 163/147
- 163/148
- 163/149
- 163/150
- 163/151
- 163/152
- 163/153
- 163/154
- 163/155
- 163/156
- 163/157
- 163/158
- 163/159
- 163/160
What to do with a reading of 163 over …
Measure at home for 7 days, morning and evening, and take the average to your doctor. A home average of 135/85 or more confirms high blood pressure. From 163/110 the lower number makes it stage 3: sit quietly for 5 minutes and measure again; if it stays at 110 or higher, contact a doctor the same day, and call 911 (US) or your local emergency number with chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness or weakness, vision or speech problems, confusion or a severe headache. Keep your readings in a free blood pressure log and read how to measure correctly.
Sources: ESH 2023 guideline · AHA/ACC 2025 guideline.