READING LOOKUP

Blood pressure 88 over 50 to 73

A top number of 88 sits below the range the 2025 ACC/AHA categories cover. Many clinicians describe readings under 90/60 as low blood pressure.

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

88 over what? The quick answer

88/50 to 73: Under 90 systolic

Every 88 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
88/50	Under 90	38	62.7
88/51	Under 90	37	63.3
88/52	Under 90	36	64
88/53	Under 90	35	64.7
88/54	Under 90	34	65.3
88/55	Under 90	33	66
88/56	Under 90	32	66.7
88/57	Under 90	31	67.3
88/58	Under 90	30	68
88/59	Under 90	29	68.7
88/60	Under 90	28	69.3
88/61	Under 90	27	70
88/62	Under 90	26	70.7
88/63	Under 90	25	71.3
88/64	Under 90	24	72
88/65	Under 90	23	72.7
88/66	Under 90	22	73.3
88/67	Under 90	21	74
88/68	Under 90	20	74.7
88/69	Under 90	19	75.3
88/70	Under 90	18	76
88/71	Under 90	17	76.7
88/72	Under 90	16	77.3
88/73	Under 90	15	78

What to do with a 88 reading

If you feel dizzy, light-headed or faint, or the low numbers are new for you, tell your doctor. Readings this low without symptoms can be normal for some people.

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 88/70 high blood pressure?

88/70 has a top number under 90, below the range the guideline categories cover. One reading is a snapshot: the guideline places you by the average of readings taken on separate occasions.

What is the MAP of 88/73?

About 78 mmHg. Mean arterial pressure is the bottom number plus a third of the pulse pressure: 73 + 15/3. The pulse pressure is 15.

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

Track this automatically with BP Log.

The free iPhone app times two readings a minute apart, averages them, keeps your morning and evening numbers apart, and builds a report for your doctor.

Other ways to track: printable log now, desktop and Excel coming soon