Blood Pressure 169 Over 42–160: Which Are OK?
With an upper value of 169, the answer depends on your lower number. Here are all readings, sorted by what they mean.
On its own, a systolic (upper) value of 169 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 169 reading up: from 169/110 it counts as stage 3. Readings below 169/109 have a pulse pressure above 60 mmHg — a wide gap that is common after 60 and worth mentioning to your doctor.
Hypertension stage 2 169/42 to 169/109
- 169/42 ↓
- 169/60
- 169/61
- 169/62
- 169/63
- 169/64
- 169/65
- 169/66
- 169/67
- 169/68
- 169/69
- 169/70
- 169/71
- 169/72
- 169/73
- 169/74
- 169/75
- 169/76
- 169/77
- 169/78
- 169/79
- 169/80
- 169/81
- 169/82
- 169/83
- 169/84
- 169/85
- 169/86
- 169/87
- 169/88
- 169/89
- 169/90
- 169/91
- 169/92
- 169/93
- 169/94
- 169/95
- 169/96
- 169/97
- 169/98
- 169/99
- 169/100
- 169/101
- 169/102
- 169/103
- 169/104
- 169/105
- 169/106
- 169/107
- 169/108
- 169/109
↓ = the lower number is below 50: these readings count as stage 2 by the upper number, but the low lower number needs checking — see each page.
Hypertension stage 3 169/110 to 169/160
- 169/110
- 169/111
- 169/112
- 169/113
- 169/114
- 169/115
- 169/116
- 169/117
- 169/118
- 169/119
- 169/120
- 169/121
- 169/122
- 169/123
- 169/124
- 169/125
- 169/126
- 169/127
- 169/128
- 169/129
- 169/130
- 169/131
- 169/132
- 169/133
- 169/134
- 169/135
- 169/136
- 169/137
- 169/138
- 169/139
- 169/140
- 169/141
- 169/142
- 169/143
- 169/144
- 169/145
- 169/146
- 169/147
- 169/148
- 169/149
- 169/150
- 169/151
- 169/152
- 169/153
- 169/154
- 169/155
- 169/156
- 169/157
- 169/158
- 169/159
- 169/160
What to do with a reading of 169 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 169/110 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. A lower number below 50 (from 169/42 down) is clearly low: measure again, and if it is confirmed or you feel dizzy, faint or confused, contact a doctor the same day. Keep your readings in a free blood pressure log and read how to measure correctly.
Sources: ESH 2023 guideline · AHA/ACC 2025 guideline.