What Does 90 Over 60 Blood Pressure Mean?
A BP reading of 90 over 60, means you have low blood pressure; a systolic pressure reading of 90mmHg when your heart contracts on a beat, and a diastolic pressure of 60mmHg when the heart is dilated or relaxing between beats. They are both measured in units of millimetres of mercury (mmHg).
You may find these readings written as, 90 over 60 or more simply, BP 90/60.
| Reads | Systolic | Diastolic |
|---|---|---|
| 90-over-60 | 90 | 60 |
Looking at your systolic and diastolic numbers independently, means they would each fall into the following categories:
- This systolic reading of 90 is considered as being, ‘low’.
- And the diastolic reading of 60 is considered as being, ‘low’.
Between the two, the one falling into a less healthy range determines your blood pressure’s overall status. In your case, your blood pressure’s status would be defined as low blood pressure, because your systolic reading is the same health status level when comparing it to the status of your diastolic reading. A low blood pressure is considered less than ideal and respected institutions such as the British Heart Foundation (BHF), UK’s National Health Service (NHS) and American Heart Association (AHA) all define it as having readings lower than 90/60mmHg.
You can see your blood pressure reading of 90 over 60 plotted on the blood pressure chart above, bear in mind that you have low blood pressure status overall when considering the implication of the systolic and diastolic components individually.
It is important to consider at this point, that a single blood pressure reading is not definitive and it can be affected by all sorts of factors. It is therefore advisable to take your blood pressure readings regularly at home, in order to find a reasonably consistent average set of numbers to work with and avoid jumping to any conclusions over a single BP measurement.
The column chart of your blood pressure above, compares the status of your systolic (higher) reading of 90mmHg with your diastolic (lower) reading of 60mmHg, from which you can then go on to determine your blood pulse pressure.
What Is Blood Pulse Pressure And What Is Mine?
Blood pulse pressure is the difference in values between your systolic and diastolic readings, which are shown on the blood pressure chart above. Your pulse pressure is therefore 30mmHg, calculated by subtracting your diastolic reading of 60mmHg from the systolic reading of 90mmHg.A normal pulse pressure is typically considered to be around 40mmHg. Your pulse pressure will naturally fluctuate with different BP readings but the variation will normally be within the 5 to 10mmHg range. Once again it is best to take several readings to determine an average.
A pulse pressure which is less than 25% of your systolic pressure is considered concerningly low and over 100%, would be considered wide. Your pulse pressure of 30mmHg as a percentage of your systolic reading of 90mmHg comes in at 33%.
Narrow pulse pressure, also known as low pulse pressure, means the heart is pumping too little blood with each beat and it is typically seen associated with various heart valve diseases and heart failure. It is also seen in cases of internal bleeding or significant blood loss from an injury.Wide pulse pressure, also referred to as high pulse pressure, can occur during exercise and is often seen in endurance athletes and high muscle mass individuals without concern. However, for less active and aging individuals experiencing hardening of the arteries, a wide pulse pressure occurs for different reasons and can be a warning sign of increased risk of stroke, heart rhythm problems and heart disease.
If you are concerned about your pulse pressure, ask your healthcare professional for advice.
Different Countries May Interpret 90/60 Differently
Your 90/60 reading is seen as low blood pressure in many countries, although the specific boundaries for each category and the naming of them can vary slightly between nations.
Revisions to these scales also occur, notably in 2017, leading U.S. health groups, including the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, set lower levels for what counts as the start of high blood pressure and removed the term prehypertension from their scale. Yet when the EU later reviewed their scale in 2018, they maintained a higher boundary for the start of hypertension.
So, large segments of the US population defined as having high blood pressure would not be considered to be suffering from hypertension by the EU.
You can check several country specific and international associations’ hypertension tables further down this page.
Where Does My Blood Pressure Show On The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) Hypertension Scale?
The ACC/AHA hypertension scale was most recently revised in 2017 and the major change at that time was lowering the boundary for the start of hypertension from equal or greater than 140/90mmHg, to equal or greater than 130/80mmHg. It also re-classified “prehypertension” as “elevated” blood pressure for systolic readings of between 120 and 129mmHg, when the diastolic reading is less than 80mmHg.
Your readings on the ACC/AHA blood pressure chart are shown below:
Your overall blood pressure status on the ACC/AHA scale, when plotting the systolic and diastolic readings, once again gives an overall status of having low blood pressure.
The column chart above, again compares your systolic (higher) reading of 90 to the diastolic (lower) reading of 60 and their individual statuses but this time on the ACC/AHA hypertension scale. The ACC/AHA blood pressure guide gives you a systolic status of low and a diastolic status of low.
Categorisations of Blood Pressure by Region/Country
Here we present the latest revised blood pressure tables and naming terms used by the EU, US, Japan, UK and International Society of Hypertension (ISH). Some differentiate office vs home readings, office not meaning your workplace but the office of the medical staff. The reason this differentiation is made is because medical environments can be stressful and raise the readings compared to what is achieved when relaxing at home and taking your own measurements.
European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) Classifications
| Category | Systolic (mmHg) | Diastolic (mmHg) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimal (Ideal) | <120 | and | <80 |
| Normal | 120–129 | and/or | 80–84 |
| High normal | 130–139 | and/or | 85–89 |
| Grade 1 hypertension | 140–159 | and/or | 90–99 |
| Grade 2 hypertension | 160–179 | and/or | 100–109 |
| Grade 3 hypertension | ≥180 | and/or | ≥110 |
| Isolated systolic hypertension | ≥140 | and | <90 |
| Isolated diastolic hypertension | <140 | and | ≥90 |
American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) Classifications
| Category | Systolic (mmHg) | Diastolic (mmHg) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | <120 | and | <80 |
| Elevated | 120-129 | and | <80 |
| Stage 1 | 130-139 | or | 80-89 |
| Stage 2 | ≥140 | or | ≥90 |
| Hypertensive crisis | >180 | and/or | >120 |
Japanese Society of Hypertension (JSH) Classifications
| Classification | Office blood pressure (mmHg) | Home blood pressure (mmHg) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBP | DBP | SBP | DBP | |
| Normal blood pressure | <120 | and <80 | <115 | and <75 |
| High normal blood pressure | 120–129 | and <80 | 115–124 | and <75 |
| Elevated blood pressure | 130–139 | and/or 80–89 | 125–134 | and/or 75–84 |
| Grade I hypertension | 140–159 | and/or 90–99 | 135–144 | and/or 85–89 |
| Grade II hypertension | 160–179 | and/or 100–109 | 145–159 | and/or 90–99 |
| Grade III hypertension | ≥180 | and/or ≥110 | ≥160 | and/or ≥100 |
| (Isolated) systolic hypertension | ≥140 | and <90 | ≥135 | and <85 |
UK National Health Service (NHS)/British Heart Foundation(BHF) Classifications
| Classification | Office blood pressure (mmHg) | Home blood pressure (mmHg) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBP | DBP | SBP | DBP | |
| Low blood pressure | <90 | <60 | <90 | <60 |
| Normal blood pressure (Under 80s) | 90–120 | 60–80 | 90–120 | 60–80 |
| Normal blood pressure (Over 80s) | <150 | <90 | <145 | <85 |
| High-normal blood pressure (pre-hypertension) | 120–140 | 80–90 | 120–140 | 80–90 |
| Stage one | 140–160 | 90–100 | 135–150 | 85–95 |
| Stage two | 160–180 | 100–120 | >150 | >95 |
| Stage three (Severe hypertension) | >180 | >120 | N/A | N/A |
International Society of Hypertension (ISH) Classification
| Category | Systolic (mm Hg) | Diastolic (mm Hg) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal BP | <130 | and | <85 |
| High-normal BP | 130–139 | and/or | 85–89 |
| Grade 1 hypertension | 140–159 | and/or | 90–99 |
| Grade 2 hypertension | ≥160 | and/or | ≥100 |
What Blood Pressure Is Normal?
Ideally your blood pressure should be between 90/60mmHG and 120/80mmHg to be considered within the normal blood pressure range, also known as the normotension range. The main concern, often known as the “silent killer,” is high blood pressure, which rarely has any obvious symptoms. The World Health Organisation estimates 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 have high blood pressure, with 46% of those unaware that they suffer from it. If left untreated persistent high blood pressure can increase your risk of a number of serious and potentially life-threatening health conditions, such as:
-
– aortic aneurysms
– heart attacks
– heart disease
– heart failure
– kidney disease
– peripheral arterial disease
– strokes
– vascular dementia
If you develop high blood pressure, reducing it even a small amount can help lower your risk of these health conditions.
By taking your own blood pressure readings regularly at home, with one of the many affordable blood pressure monitors (also known as a blood pressure gauge or sphygmomanometer), you will get a more consistent average to work with, rather than just the occasional reading being given to you when you visit the doctor. You can then better understand if your blood pressure is ok overall, or whether you need to make some changes to your lifestyle to shift your blood pressure into a healthier range. If your readings are consistently high or abnormally low, you should seek further advice from your medical practitioner to explore the possible underlying causes and see if they think there may be a need for blood pressure medicine.Is Your Low Blood Pressure Healthy Or Problematic?
Low blood pressure is not usually a problem, but if it becomes too low, you may feel dizzy or faint. If your blood pressure readings are consistently low but you feel fine, your doctor will likely just monitor your readings. However, they may want to explore the possible causes of low blood pressure if it is very low. Low blood pressure is called hypotension and in severe cases it can be life threatening. There are a variety of causes for low blood pressure, ranging from dehydration to serious medical issues.What Are The Symptoms Of Low Blood Pressure?
Some symptoms of low blood pressure include dizziness and being prone to feeling faint, particularly when standing up quickly (known as postural or orthostatic hypotension), blurry vision, nausea, the inability to concentrate properly and general fatigue. If you experience these symptoms, keep a record of when they occur and what activity you were undertaking at the time. For example, getting out of a long hot bath or spending too long in the hot sun can cause a temporary drop in blood pressure. However, extreme hypotension can place the body in ‘shock’ which can be life threatening and is characterised by a weak, rapid pulse, cold clammy skin, shallow rapid breaths and confusion. If you are experiencing signs of shock, emergency medical help should be sought.
Low Blood Pressure Causes
Conditions that can cause low blood pressure numbers are typically associated with:
Dehydration – where your body is in water deficit, it can be caused by things like strenuous exercise, vomiting, fever, diarrhoea or using diuretics (which promote passing urine, such as ‘water pills’).
Pregnancy – the circulation system expends during pregnancy leading to lower blood pressure but this typically reverts back to normal after giving birth.
Nutrient Deficiency – Lack of Iron, Vitamin B12 and folate can cause anaemia which can restrict the amount of red blood cells the body is able to produce and can result in low blood pressure.
Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) – caused by a person’s allergy sensitivities to things like latex, venom, peanuts etc. This can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure and may be accompanied by other symptoms including itching, hives (rash), breathing difficulty and a swollen throat. This reaction is known as Anaphylactic Shock.
Septicaemia (blood poisoning) – where the blood stream is infected (septicaemia) it can cause life threatening low blood pressure. This reaction is known as Septic Shock.
Blood Loss – A loss of blood by internal or external injury will lower blood pressure rapidly if severe.
Heart Issues – An extremely low heart rate (bradycardia) can cause low blood pressure as well as heart valve issues, heart disease, heart attack and heart failure.
Low Blood Sugar – low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia) can also cause a drop in blood pressure.
Which Medications Cause Low Blood Pressure?
Various medications and combinations thereof may also cause low blood pressure. An non-exhaustive list includes: water pills, alpha blockers, beta blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, certain drugs for Parkinson’s disease and erectile dysfunction drugs.
Low Blood Pressure After Eating
Some people, especially those over 65, may be prone to low blood pressure an hour or two after eating. The blood is sent to the digestive tract and usually your pulse rate increases and other blood vessels in your body constrict to maintain normal blood pressure. Where this mechanism fails to function properly, low blood pressure can result, which in this scenario is known as, postprandial hypotension.
Low Blood Pressure After Standing For Too Long
Low blood pressure can also occur after standing up for too long, known as, neurally mediated hypotension. This is more prominent in young adults and children and thought to occur due to miscommunication between the brain and heart.
Low Blood Pressure From Phobias
Conditions like haemophobia – fear of the site of blood or trypanophobia – fear of needles can cause fainting (vasovagal syncope) from a temporary drop in blood pressure. Having the affected person lie down flat or put their head between their legs usually solves this issue relatively quickly.
Low Blood Pressure Summary
Some people with low blood pressure may experience minor symptoms such as dizziness and feeling faint. However, even these symptoms could result in injuries from falling. At the more severe end of the scale, low blood pressure can occasionally place the body into shock and result in insufficient oxygen being transported around the body, in turn leading to brain and heart damage and sometimes death.If your blood pressure readings are continually coming in significantly lower than the normal range, even after considering temporary factors that may cause it, get your readings confirmed with your doctor or pharmacist who will be best placed to explore any underlying issues.
Key Takeaways:
- Blood Pressure Reading: 90/60 is considered a Low Blood Pressure reading, also known as Hypotension.
- Understanding the Reading:
- Systolic pressure (90mmHg) occurs when the heart contracts.
- Diastolic pressure (60mmHg) occurs when the heart relaxes between beats.
- Both measurements are in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).
- Major health institutions (British Heart Foundation, NHS, American Heart Association) define low blood pressure as readings lower than 90/60mmHg.
- Blood Pulse Pressure:
- Is the difference between the systolic and diastolic readings.
- A normal pulse pressure is around 40mmHg and between 25-100% of you systolic reading.
- The pulse pressure for this reading of 90/60 is 30mmHg.
- 30mmHg a percentage of your systolic reading (90mmHg) is 33%.
- Potential Causes of Low Blood Pressure Include:
- Dehydration, pregnancy, nutrient deficiency, severe allergic reactions, blood loss, heart issues, low blood sugar, and certain medications.
- Symptoms of Low Blood Pressure:
- Dizziness, blurry vision, nausea, inability to concentrate, and fatigue.
- Impact of Medications: Some medications, including water pills, alpha blockers, and beta blockers, can cause low blood pressure.
- International Standards:
- Blood pressure classifications vary between countries.
- The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association updated their hypertension scale in 2017.
- Normal Blood Pressure Range: Ideally, blood pressure should be between 90/60mmHG and 120/80mmHg.
- Importance of Regular Monitoring: A single blood pressure reading isn’t definitive. Regular monitoring, which you can do at home, will provide a more accurate average.