What Is Pulse Pressure and What Does It Mean?
Pulse pressure is your systolic minus your diastolic number. A resting value near 40 mmHg is typical; here is what wider or narrower readings can signal.
This article is educational content, not medical advice. Always talk to a healthcare professional about your blood pressure.
Pulse pressure is the gap between your two blood pressure numbers: systolic minus diastolic. If a reading is 120/80 mmHg, the pulse pressure is 40. A resting value around 40 mmHg is typical, and both an unusually wide gap and an unusually narrow one can be worth watching over time.
The number already hiding in your reading
You don't need a separate device to find your pulse pressure. It's tucked inside every reading you take: subtract the bottom number from the top one. According to the Mayo Clinic, a normal resting pulse pressure sits between 40 and 60 mmHg. A value consistently above 60 mmHg is called a wide pulse pressure and is a recognized risk factor for heart disease, especially in older adults, where stiffening of the large arteries is the usual cause. A narrow pulse pressure below 40 mmHg is less common and can reflect reduced heart output. As with blood pressure itself, one number means little; the trend across many calm readings is what carries information.
How to calculate it
The math is one subtraction. Take the systolic (top) number and remove the diastolic (bottom) number, and what is left is your pulse pressure in mmHg.
| Reading | Systolic − Diastolic | Pulse pressure |
|---|---|---|
| 118/78 | 118 − 78 | 40 mmHg |
| 120/80 | 120 − 80 | 40 mmHg |
| 145/75 | 145 − 75 | 70 mmHg |
| 105/80 | 105 − 80 | 25 mmHg |
That last column is the only figure you're after. Because it comes straight from the same two numbers you already record, you can look back at any past reading and work it out.
What counts as normal, wide or narrow
Ranges give a single value context. The figures below come from the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic, and they describe resting adults.
| Pulse pressure | Range | What it may point to |
|---|---|---|
| Narrow | Below 40 mmHg | Sometimes lower heart output; less common |
| Typical | 40–60 mmHg | The usual resting range |
| Wide | Above 60 mmHg | A recognized cardiovascular risk factor, often arterial stiffness |
These bands are not a diagnosis. They are a way to notice when your own numbers drift from what is usual for you, so you can bring real data to a clinician rather than a single startling figure.
Why a wide gap draws attention
A wide pulse pressure usually comes down to the aorta and other large arteries losing some of their springiness. The Cleveland Clinic notes that stiffer arteries can't cushion each heartbeat as well, so the systolic number climbs while the diastolic number holds steady or falls. The result is a bigger gap between the two.
This is why pulse pressure tends to widen with age even in otherwise healthy people. It is also why a reading like 160/70 (a pulse pressure of 90) can carry more weight than the systolic number alone suggests. The Mayo Clinic reports that a pulse pressure above 60 mmHg is a risk factor for heart disease, particularly in older adults.
When a reading needs more than tracking
Pulse pressure is a pattern signal, not an alarm you should act on in the moment. The exception is the reading itself. The American Heart Association puts a blood pressure above 180/120 mmHg, especially with chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness or vision changes, in the hypertensive crisis range. In that situation the gap between the numbers is beside the point: seek medical help immediately rather than waiting to log another reading.
For everything below that line, the useful habit is the same one that helps with blood pressure generally. Take readings calmly, at consistent times, and let a week or two of data show you the trend. If you are new to home measurement, our guide on how to take an accurate reading at home covers the setup that keeps your numbers comparable from day to day.
Tracking pulse pressure without doing the math each time
Working out the gap by hand for every reading gets tedious, and a single day tells you almost nothing anyway. What you want is the direction of travel over weeks.
This is where a log earns its place. BPlus stores each systolic and diastolic reading you enter, with the time, date and arm stamped automatically, and its trends and charts let you watch how your numbers move over time instead of reacting to one afternoon's figure. You can log values by hand, or scan the display of your own monitor with the camera so the numbers go in without typing. When it is time for an appointment, a doctor-ready PDF or CSV export puts the full history in front of the person qualified to read it. If you want the background on the two numbers themselves first, our post on understanding your blood pressure numbers walks through systolic, diastolic and the standard categories.
BPlus is a wellness and logging tool. It does not measure your blood pressure or interpret pulse pressure for you, and it is not a substitute for professional care. What it does well is keep your own data in one place so a real trend becomes visible.
Mini-FAQ
Is pulse pressure the same as heart rate? No. Heart rate is how many times your heart beats per minute. Pulse pressure is the difference between your systolic and diastolic numbers in mmHg. They are unrelated measurements, even though both are sometimes loosely called "pulse."
What pulse pressure is considered dangerous? There is no single cutoff, but the Mayo Clinic describes a pulse pressure above 60 mmHg as a risk factor for heart disease, and a narrow value below 40 mmHg can also warrant attention. A trend outside 40–60 mmHg is a reason to talk with a clinician, not to panic.
Can I change a wide pulse pressure on my own? Pulse pressure reflects underlying factors like arterial stiffness and overall blood pressure, so it is not something to chase directly. The general steps that support healthy blood pressure are what matter, and any treatment decision belongs to a doctor who can see your full picture.
Sources
Keep your readings in one calm place
BPlus does the logging with you: record by hand or scan your monitor, watch your trends, and export a doctor-ready report when you need one.
Medical disclaimer. BPlus is a wellness and informational tool that helps you record, organize and understand your blood pressure readings. It is not a medical device and does not diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. BPlus does not measure blood pressure on its own. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Readings are not a substitute for a clinically validated blood pressure monitor.
