Blood Pressure 94 Over 40–90: Which Are OK?

With an upper value of 94, the answer depends on your lower number. Here are all readings, sorted by what they mean.

On its own, a systolic (upper) value of 94 mmHg is Ideal (optimal) by the international categories (2023 ESH guideline) and Normal under the 2025 AHA/ACC guideline. The worse of your two numbers decides the category, so a raised diastolic (lower) value moves a 94 reading up, and a lower number below 60 makes it low: below 94/60 it counts as low, from 94/80 it counts as normal, from 94/85 it counts as high normal, from 94/90 it counts as stage 1.

Blood pressure chart with the row for an upper value of 94: which lower values are ideal, normal, high normal or hypertension

Normal 94/80 to 94/84

High normal 94/85 to 94/89

Hypertension stage 1 94/90

What to do with a reading of 94 over …

A good upper value. Re-check at least once a year, and use the average of several readings rather than a single one. A lower number below 50 (from 94/49 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.

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