Blood Pressure 179 Over 60–160: Which Are OK?
With an upper value of 179, the answer depends on your lower number. Here are all readings, sorted by what they mean.
On its own, a systolic (upper) value of 179 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 179 reading up: from 179/110 it counts as stage 3. Readings below 179/119 have a pulse pressure above 60 mmHg — a wide gap that is common after 60 and worth mentioning to your doctor.
Hypertension stage 2 179/60 to 179/109
- 179/60
- 179/61
- 179/62
- 179/63
- 179/64
- 179/65
- 179/66
- 179/67
- 179/68
- 179/69
- 179/70
- 179/71
- 179/72
- 179/73
- 179/74
- 179/75
- 179/76
- 179/77
- 179/78
- 179/79
- 179/80
- 179/81
- 179/82
- 179/83
- 179/84
- 179/85
- 179/86
- 179/87
- 179/88
- 179/89
- 179/90
- 179/91
- 179/92
- 179/93
- 179/94
- 179/95
- 179/96
- 179/97
- 179/98
- 179/99
- 179/100
- 179/101
- 179/102
- 179/103
- 179/104
- 179/105
- 179/106
- 179/107
- 179/108
- 179/109
Hypertension stage 3 179/110 to 179/160
- 179/110
- 179/111
- 179/112
- 179/113
- 179/114
- 179/115
- 179/116
- 179/117
- 179/118
- 179/119
- 179/120
- 179/121
- 179/122
- 179/123
- 179/124
- 179/125
- 179/126
- 179/127
- 179/128
- 179/129
- 179/130
- 179/131
- 179/132
- 179/133
- 179/134
- 179/135
- 179/136
- 179/137
- 179/138
- 179/139
- 179/140
- 179/141
- 179/142
- 179/143
- 179/144
- 179/145
- 179/146
- 179/147
- 179/148
- 179/149
- 179/150
- 179/151
- 179/152
- 179/153
- 179/154
- 179/155
- 179/156
- 179/157
- 179/158
- 179/159
- 179/160
What to do with a reading of 179 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 179/110 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.