Blood Pressure 168 Over 54–160: Which Are OK?
With an upper value of 168, the answer depends on your lower number. Here are all readings, sorted by what they mean.
On its own, a systolic (upper) value of 168 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 168 reading up: from 168/110 it counts as stage 3. Readings below 168/108 have a pulse pressure above 60 mmHg — a wide gap that is common after 60 and worth mentioning to your doctor.
Hypertension stage 2 168/54 to 168/109
- 168/54
- 168/59
- 168/60
- 168/61
- 168/62
- 168/63
- 168/64
- 168/65
- 168/66
- 168/67
- 168/68
- 168/69
- 168/70
- 168/71
- 168/72
- 168/73
- 168/74
- 168/75
- 168/76
- 168/77
- 168/78
- 168/79
- 168/80
- 168/81
- 168/82
- 168/83
- 168/84
- 168/85
- 168/86
- 168/87
- 168/88
- 168/89
- 168/90
- 168/91
- 168/92
- 168/93
- 168/94
- 168/95
- 168/96
- 168/97
- 168/98
- 168/99
- 168/100
- 168/101
- 168/102
- 168/103
- 168/104
- 168/105
- 168/106
- 168/107
- 168/108
- 168/109
Hypertension stage 3 168/110 to 168/160
- 168/110
- 168/111
- 168/112
- 168/113
- 168/114
- 168/115
- 168/116
- 168/117
- 168/118
- 168/119
- 168/120
- 168/121
- 168/122
- 168/123
- 168/124
- 168/125
- 168/126
- 168/127
- 168/128
- 168/129
- 168/130
- 168/131
- 168/132
- 168/133
- 168/134
- 168/135
- 168/136
- 168/137
- 168/138
- 168/139
- 168/140
- 168/141
- 168/142
- 168/143
- 168/144
- 168/145
- 168/146
- 168/147
- 168/148
- 168/149
- 168/150
- 168/151
- 168/152
- 168/153
- 168/154
- 168/155
- 168/156
- 168/157
- 168/158
- 168/159
- 168/160
What to do with a reading of 168 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 168/110 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.