Should I be concerned about my recent blood pressure reading?

Question

yesterday, I had a back to work physical, and my BP reading was 138/66. I know that 138 is bad, but I thought that below 75 was generally good.

Answer 1

138 is on the systolic high end, and needs to be lower; however, there is not as much concern with the top number (systolic) as there is with the bottom number (diastolic) your diastolic reading is good.

Paramedic in SC

Answer 2

138 doesn't sound bad. Mine runs that high sometimes. My doctor wants it lower, like 115-125, but he isn't in a panic about it. A one-time reading doesn't mean anything anyway. What does it average over a week? What does your doctor think it should be? That's the opinion that matters.

Answer 3

138/ 66 is actually good, the top number can go up and down all day long depending on what you are doing, It can go up just being at the doctors office, called the white coat syndrome

Answer 4

You should go to your local pharmacy and take it. Go a couple of times in a month, that way you can get a good idea of what your BP really is.