READING LOOKUP

Blood pressure 188 over 50 to 110

A top number of 188 is above 180, the line the American Heart Association uses for severe high blood pressure, whatever the bottom number.

Reviewed by Kaustubh Dabhadkar, MD, MPH, FACC, board-certified cardiologist. Categories follow the 2025 ACC/AHA guideline for adults.

Above 180: Wait a minute and check again. If it is still above 180, call your doctor. Call 911 if you also have chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness, weakness, a change in vision or trouble speaking.

188 over what? The quick answer

188/50 to 110: Severe (above 180)

Every 188 reading

Pulse pressure is the top number minus the bottom number. MAP (mean arterial pressure) is the bottom number plus a third of the pulse pressure.

Reading	Category	Pulse pressure	MAP
188/50	Severe	138	96
188/51	Severe	137	96.7
188/52	Severe	136	97.3
188/53	Severe	135	98
188/54	Severe	134	98.7
188/55	Severe	133	99.3
188/56	Severe	132	100
188/57	Severe	131	100.7
188/58	Severe	130	101.3
188/59	Severe	129	102
188/60	Severe	128	102.7
188/61	Severe	127	103.3
188/62	Severe	126	104
188/63	Severe	125	104.7
188/64	Severe	124	105.3
188/65	Severe	123	106
188/66	Severe	122	106.7
188/67	Severe	121	107.3
188/68	Severe	120	108
188/69	Severe	119	108.7
188/70	Severe	118	109.3
188/71	Severe	117	110
188/72	Severe	116	110.7
188/73	Severe	115	111.3
188/74	Severe	114	112
188/75	Severe	113	112.7
188/76	Severe	112	113.3
188/77	Severe	111	114
188/78	Severe	110	114.7
188/79	Severe	109	115.3
188/80	Severe	108	116
188/81	Severe	107	116.7
188/82	Severe	106	117.3
188/83	Severe	105	118
188/84	Severe	104	118.7
188/85	Severe	103	119.3
188/86	Severe	102	120
188/87	Severe	101	120.7
188/88	Severe	100	121.3
188/89	Severe	99	122
188/90	Severe	98	122.7
188/91	Severe	97	123.3
188/92	Severe	96	124
188/93	Severe	95	124.7
188/94	Severe	94	125.3
188/95	Severe	93	126
188/96	Severe	92	126.7
188/97	Severe	91	127.3
188/98	Severe	90	128
188/99	Severe	89	128.7
188/100	Severe	88	129.3
188/101	Severe	87	130
188/102	Severe	86	130.7
188/103	Severe	85	131.3
188/104	Severe	84	132
188/105	Severe	83	132.7
188/106	Severe	82	133.3
188/107	Severe	81	134
188/108	Severe	80	134.7
188/109	Severe	79	135.3
188/110	Severe	78	136

What to do with a 188 reading

Wait a minute and check again. If it is still above 180, call your doctor. Call 911 if you also have chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness, weakness, a change in vision or trouble speaking.

Readings move from minute to minute, and the first one usually runs a few points higher. The home measuring guide covers how to get a reading you can trust, and the 7-day home average turns a week of readings into the number your doctor uses. To check any reading, use the category checker.

Common questions

Is 188/70 high blood pressure?

188/70 is above 180 systolic, the American Heart Association's line for severe high blood pressure. One reading is a snapshot: the guideline places you by the average of readings taken on separate occasions.

Is 188/80 high blood pressure?

188/80 is above 180 systolic, the American Heart Association's line for severe high blood pressure. One reading is a snapshot: the guideline places you by the average of readings taken on separate occasions.

Is 188/90 high blood pressure?

188/90 is above 180 systolic, the American Heart Association's line for severe high blood pressure. One reading is a snapshot: the guideline places you by the average of readings taken on separate occasions.

What is the MAP of 188/80?

About 116 mmHg. Mean arterial pressure is the bottom number plus a third of the pulse pressure: 80 + 108/3. The pulse pressure is 108.

This page is educational and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Categories describe numbers for adults; they are not a diagnosis, and they are not a substitute for care from your own doctor.

SOURCES

Jones DW, et al. 2025 AHA/ACC/AANP/AAPA/ABC/ACCP/ACPM/AGS/AMA/ASPC/NMA/PCNA/SGIM Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults (Circulation, 2025): Blood pressure categories (normal under 120/80, elevated 120 to 129 and under 80, stage 1 130 to 139 or 80 to 89, stage 2 140 or 90 and higher); the higher category counts when the two numbers disagree; severe hypertension above 180/120; PREVENT for risk estimation
Understanding Blood Pressure Readings (American Heart Association, reviewed August 14, 2025): Category chart for adults; severe hypertension and hypertensive emergency rows; call 911 above 180/120 with symptoms

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