Blood Pressure 174 Over 57–160: Which Are OK?
With an upper value of 174, the answer depends on your lower number. Here are all readings, sorted by what they mean.
On its own, a systolic (upper) value of 174 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 174 reading up: from 174/110 it counts as stage 3. Readings below 174/114 have a pulse pressure above 60 mmHg — a wide gap that is common after 60 and worth mentioning to your doctor.
Hypertension stage 2 174/57 to 174/109
- 174/57
- 174/60
- 174/61
- 174/62
- 174/63
- 174/64
- 174/65
- 174/66
- 174/67
- 174/68
- 174/69
- 174/70
- 174/71
- 174/72
- 174/73
- 174/74
- 174/75
- 174/76
- 174/77
- 174/78
- 174/79
- 174/80
- 174/81
- 174/82
- 174/83
- 174/84
- 174/85
- 174/86
- 174/87
- 174/88
- 174/89
- 174/90
- 174/91
- 174/92
- 174/93
- 174/94
- 174/95
- 174/96
- 174/97
- 174/98
- 174/99
- 174/100
- 174/101
- 174/102
- 174/103
- 174/104
- 174/105
- 174/106
- 174/107
- 174/108
- 174/109
Hypertension stage 3 174/110 to 174/160
- 174/110
- 174/111
- 174/112
- 174/113
- 174/114
- 174/115
- 174/116
- 174/117
- 174/118
- 174/119
- 174/120
- 174/121
- 174/122
- 174/123
- 174/124
- 174/125
- 174/126
- 174/127
- 174/128
- 174/129
- 174/130
- 174/131
- 174/132
- 174/133
- 174/134
- 174/135
- 174/136
- 174/137
- 174/138
- 174/139
- 174/140
- 174/141
- 174/142
- 174/143
- 174/144
- 174/145
- 174/146
- 174/147
- 174/148
- 174/149
- 174/150
- 174/151
- 174/152
- 174/153
- 174/154
- 174/155
- 174/156
- 174/157
- 174/158
- 174/159
- 174/160
What to do with a reading of 174 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 174/110 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.