Blood Pressure 170 Over 43–160: Which Are OK?
With an upper value of 170, the answer depends on your lower number. Here are all readings, sorted by what they mean.
On its own, a systolic (upper) value of 170 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 170 reading up: from 170/110 it counts as stage 3. Readings below 170/110 have a pulse pressure above 60 mmHg — a wide gap that is common after 60 and worth mentioning to your doctor.
Hypertension stage 2 170/43 to 170/109
- 170/43 ↓
- 170/52
- 170/60
- 170/61
- 170/62
- 170/63
- 170/64
- 170/65
- 170/66
- 170/67
- 170/68
- 170/69
- 170/70
- 170/71
- 170/72
- 170/73
- 170/74
- 170/75
- 170/76
- 170/77
- 170/78
- 170/79
- 170/80
- 170/81
- 170/82
- 170/83
- 170/84
- 170/85
- 170/86
- 170/87
- 170/88
- 170/89
- 170/90
- 170/91
- 170/92
- 170/93
- 170/94
- 170/95
- 170/96
- 170/97
- 170/98
- 170/99
- 170/100
- 170/101
- 170/102
- 170/103
- 170/104
- 170/105
- 170/106
- 170/107
- 170/108
- 170/109
↓ = 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 3 170/110 to 170/160
- 170/110
- 170/111
- 170/112
- 170/113
- 170/114
- 170/115
- 170/116
- 170/117
- 170/118
- 170/119
- 170/120
- 170/121
- 170/122
- 170/123
- 170/124
- 170/125
- 170/126
- 170/127
- 170/128
- 170/129
- 170/130
- 170/131
- 170/132
- 170/133
- 170/134
- 170/135
- 170/136
- 170/137
- 170/138
- 170/139
- 170/140
- 170/141
- 170/142
- 170/143
- 170/144
- 170/145
- 170/146
- 170/147
- 170/148
- 170/149
- 170/150
- 170/151
- 170/152
- 170/153
- 170/154
- 170/155
- 170/156
- 170/157
- 170/158
- 170/159
- 170/160
What to do with a reading of 170 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 170/110 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 170/43 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.