Blood pressure
Blood Pressure Numbers: Normal Blood Pressure and the AHA Categories
Blood pressure numbers are two readings, systolic over diastolic, in mm Hg. Normal blood pressure is under 120 over 80. Stage 1 starts at 130 or 80, stage 2 at 140 or 90. Low is under 90/60. A Melonex capsule is a supplement and does not change these ranges.
Written by the Melonex numbers deskUpdated
01The two numbers
What do blood pressure numbers mean?
Blood pressure numbers are the force of blood on artery walls, written as two figures in mm Hg. The top is systolic, when the heart beats. The bottom is diastolic, between beats.
A reading of 118/76 means 118 on top and 76 on the bottom. Either reading alone can move you into a higher category. The higher of the two decides.
High blood pressure usually causes no symptoms. Regular checks are the only reliable way to know (MedlinePlus, High blood pressure). NHLBI says to check at least once a year, and about 1 in 3 adults with it do not know they have it (NHLBI, High blood pressure).
A provider needs two or more readings at separate visits before diagnosing it (MedlinePlus, High blood pressure). One high cuff reading is a reason to recheck, not a verdict.
02AHA categories
What are the blood pressure categories?
The AHA names five: normal, elevated, stage 1, stage 2 and a crisis range above 180 and/or 120.
| Category | Systolic (top) | Diastolic (bottom) |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | under 120 | and under 80 |
| Elevated | 120-129 | and under 80 |
| Stage 1 | 130-139 | or 80-89 |
| Stage 2 | 140 or more | or 90 or more |
| Severe | above 180 | and/or above 120 |
Type your own reading below to see where it lands.
- NormalUnder 120and under 80
- Elevated120-129and under 80
- Stage 1130-139or 80-89
- Stage 2140 or higheror 90 or higher
- SevereAbove 180and/or above 120
Type a reading to see its category. One reading is not a diagnosis; a provider uses two or more readings on separate visits.
The categories follow the American Heart Association (AHA, Blood pressure readings). Nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure and about 1 in 4 of them have it under control (CDC, High blood pressure facts). A supplement is not a treatment for any category.
03Normal range
What counts as normal blood pressure?
Normal blood pressure is under 120 over 80 (AHA, Blood pressure readings). Both numbers must be under their lines.
Normal is not the same as low. Low blood pressure is a reading under 90/60, and it matters mainly when it causes dizziness, fainting or blurred vision (NHLBI, Low blood pressure).
Top of normal
Stay under both lines.
Stage 1 starts
Either number at or over its line counts.
Low starts under
Symptoms decide whether it needs care.
The CDC counts a U.S. adult as having high blood pressure at above 130 systolic, above 80 diastolic, or taking medicine for it. That covers 48.1% of adults, and 22.5% have it under control (CDC, High blood pressure facts).
04At home
How do you take home blood pressure readings?
Use a validated automatic upper-arm cuff, rest 5 minutes and take two readings one minute apart (AHA, Home blood pressure monitoring).
Wrist and finger monitors are not recommended. Skip smoking, caffeine and exercise for 30 minutes first. Empty your bladder and sit with the cuff at heart level on bare skin.
- 1Validated upper-arm cuff
Wrist and finger monitors are not recommended.
- 230 minutes clear
No smoking, caffeine or exercise first; empty your bladder.
- 3Rest 5 minutes
Sit quietly; no talking or phone.
- 4Arm at heart level
Supported on a table, cuff on bare skin just above the elbow bend.
- 5Two readings
One minute apart, same time each day.
- 6Write them down
Bring the log or the monitor to appointments.
Home measuring steps from the American Heart Association (AHA, Home blood pressure monitoring).
Take readings at the same time each day and write them down. Bring the log to your appointments (AHA, Home blood pressure monitoring). The two-bottle render below is a reminder that a daily capsule and a daily cuff check can share one routine, nothing more.
05Too low
Can a supplement cause low blood pressure?
It can add to a drop when you already take blood-pressure medicine. Arginine and citrulline are two supplements flagged for this (Mayo Clinic, L-arginine) (WebMD, L-citrulline).
If you search for a low blood pressure supplement, know the reverse risk first: some amino acids can push pressure down further. Mayo Clinic lists blood pressure drugs, nitrates and sildenafil as pairings that may leave pressure too low (Mayo Clinic, L-arginine). In arginine trials at 9-30 g a day, a slightly lower pressure was a common effect (NIH ODS, Supplements for Exercise).
Melonex is not a treatment for low pressure either. Signs of too low: dizziness, fainting, blurred vision, confusion and weakness (NHLBI, Low blood pressure). Keep taking prescribed medicine as directed, sit down if you feel faint and call your doctor.
- Dizzy or lightheadedEspecially when you stand up
- FaintingOr feeling you might
- Blurry visionComes and goes
- Weak or confusedUnusual tiredness
- Pounding heartbeatPalpitations, nausea
90/60Below this is low blood pressure (NHLBI). If these signs start after adding a supplement to blood-pressure medicine, sit or lie down, stop the supplement and call your doctor. Do not change your prescribed medicine on your own.
180/120Above this, wait a minute and measure again. Still that high with chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness, weakness, vision change or trouble speaking: call 911.
Low-pressure signs from NHLBI (NHLBI, Low blood pressure); the 180/120 steps from the American Heart Association (AHA, Blood pressure readings).
06Where Melonex fits
Do supplements change your blood pressure numbers?
In small trials, grams of citrulline or arginine moved systolic pressure by about 4 to 5 mm Hg. One Melonex capsule holds far less, and no trial tested it.
| Ingredient | Trial dose a day | Systolic change | One capsule, at most |
|---|---|---|---|
| L-citrulline (Avicenna J Phytomed 2019, L-citrulline and BP meta-analysis) | 3-9 g | -4.10 | 500 mg |
| L-arginine (Am Heart J 2011, L-arginine and BP meta-analysis) | 4-24 g | -5.39 | 333 mg |
NCCIH adds a plain rule: do not replace conventional treatment with other products (NCCIH, Cardiovascular disease). The label's starred words are covered on claims vs evidence.
07Act on it
What if a reading is above 180 over 120?
Wait one minute and measure again. If it is still that high with no symptoms, contact your provider. With symptoms, call 911 (AHA, Blood pressure readings).
Symptoms that change the answer: chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness, weakness, vision change or trouble speaking.
08FAQ
Blood pressure number questions
What is a normal blood pressure number?
Normal blood pressure is under 120 over 80 mm Hg, per the AHA. Both numbers must be under their lines. Between 120-129 over under 80 is elevated, and 130/80 starts stage 1.
What blood pressure is too low?
Low blood pressure is a reading under 90/60 mm Hg. It matters most with dizziness, fainting, blurred vision or confusion. Medicines for high pressure can cause it. If it happens, sit down and call your doctor.
How many readings make a diagnosis of high blood pressure?
Two or more readings at separate visits. A provider does not diagnose it from one cuff number. At home, take two readings one minute apart, and bring your log to your appointment.
What time of day should I take home blood pressure readings?
Pick the same time each day. The AHA advises resting 5 minutes first, with no caffeine, smoking or exercise for 30 minutes. Use an upper-arm cuff, not a wrist or finger monitor.
Does a low blood pressure supplement exist in Melonex?
No. Melonex is not sold to raise blood pressure, and its amino acids can add to blood-pressure drugs. If you tend toward low readings, ask your doctor before any supplement.
Is 180 over 120 an emergency?
It is a reason to act. Wait a minute and measure again. If it stays that high and you feel fine, call your provider. If you also have chest pain, trouble breathing or weakness, call 911.
09Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the seller's materials and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, AHA, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read how we write and how we check reviews. This website is run by Melonexheart, which describes itself as a U.S. authorized Melonex merchant. It is not the manufacturer or the label's distributor, and we cannot independently verify the 'authorized' status. We are paid when you buy through our order links.
+Keep reading
More about Melonex
U.S. authorized Melonex merchant
Ready to try Melonex?
Show the bottle to your doctor or pharmacist first, then pick a pack. Six bottles cost the least per bottle, and the seller lists a 60-day money-back guarantee on every pack.
- Secure checkout
- 60-day money-back
- Ships from the U.S.
