Mean Arterial Pressure Calculator
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When submitting your data and reviewing the results, please refer to the tables below while bearing in mind that this tool is solely intended for educational and illustrative purposes.
| MAP Level | MAP (mm Hg) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Very low | below 60 | Your major organs may not be receiving adequate blood supply. Inadequate blood flow and nutrients can cause the tissue in these organs to degenerate and eventually perish, causing permanent organ damage. |
| Low | 60 to below 70 | Individuals with low blood pressure are susceptible to specific conditions that may increase the risk of sepsis, stroke, or internal bleeding. A MAP of 60 mm Hg or higher is crucial to adequately perfuse coronary arteries and guarantee sufficient blood flow to critical organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys. |
| Normal | 70 to 100 | Physicians generally regard blood pressure readings falling between 70-100 mm Hg as normal, such as 90/60 to 120/80 mm Hg. Any readings that are significantly higher or lower than this range may indicate an underlying health issue. (Healthline, 2021). |
| High | above 100 | If the mean arterial pressure exceeds 100 mm Hg, it may indicate excessive pressure within the arteries, which can result in blood clots, damage to the heart muscle, heart attack, kidney failure, or heart failure. |
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Our tool employs the widely-used formula for calculating MAP, which makes certain assumptions about the shape of the blood pressure pulse. Although the formula can be accurate in some patients, its accuracy can be affected by factors such as the arterial site, patient gender, and individual variations in pulse shape, particularly in neonates (Verrij, et a.l, 2008; Mahieu, 2007; Gevers, et a.l., 1993).
According to an AHA study, mean arterial pressure remains consistent throughout the arterial tree, eliminating the uncertainty around whether central or brachial blood pressure confers a greater risk for cardiovascular issues. Moreover, MAP incorporates information related to both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, making it a valuable indicator of risk. In an individual participant meta-analysis comprising 1 million individuals, it was found that office MAP was a more effective predictor of vascular mortality than systolic or diastolic blood pressure, or pulse pressure. | ||
| Pulse Pressure Level | PP (mm Hg) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Low (narrow) | below 40 | A narrow or low pulse pressure is characterized by a PP that is one-fourth (25%) or less of the systolic pressure. This may suggest that the heart is not effectively pumping blood, a condition that is commonly observed in heart failure, specific heart valve disorders, or instances of significant blood loss or internal bleeding. Additional causes of low pulse pressure include aortic stenosis and cardiac tamponade, which involves the compression of the heart due to fluid accumulation in the sac that surrounds the heart. |
| Normal | 40 to 60 | Regularly monitoring your pulse pressure has the potential to help identify potential heart problems and associated risks before symptoms arise. |
| High (wide) | above 60 | A PP greater than 60 can indicate a risk for stroke, heart attack, heart disease, and other conditions, especially in older adults. Additionally, as PP increases, the risk of kidney disease, diabetes, or other metabolic disorders also increases. Anemia (iron deficiency) is the most common cause of wide pulse pressure, while other causes include thickening and hardening of arterial walls (arteriosclerosis), arteriovenous fistula, Beriberi heart disease, cirrhosis, hypertension, aortic regurgitation (when the heart valve doesn't close properly), aortic sclerosis (thickening of aortic valve), hyperthyroidism, hypovolemia (low blood volume), bradycardia (decreased heart rate), irregular heartbeat, slower heart rate, intense exercise, large muscle mass, pregnancy, and genetics. Regular monitoring of PP can help identify potential heart problems before symptoms develop. |
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The Pulse Pressure is calculated by subtracting the Diastolic Pressure from the Systolic Pressure, and it reflects the force exerted by the heart during a contraction. Consequently, as the Pulse Pressure increases, the heart has to perform more work.
Systolic Pressure refers to the pressure in the arteries during heartbeats, while Diastolic Pressure refers to the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats. (MedicineNet.com; ClevelandClinic.org). | ||
| Blood Pressure Level | SP (mm Hg) | Qualifier | DP (mm Hg) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | less than 120 | and | less than 80 | |
| Elevated | 120 to 129 | and | less than 80 | |
| High Blood Pressure Stage 1 | 130 to 139 | or | 80 to 89 | |
| High Blood Pressure Stage 2 | 140 or higher | or | 90 or higher | |
| Hypertensive Crisis | higher than 180 | and/or | higher than 120 | |
| Categorization based on the American Heart Association, Mayo Clinic, and recently published guidelines (Whelton, et a.l., 2018). The category ranges may have lower values for children and teenagers. | ||||
Mean Arterial Pressure (2023, January 29). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mean_arterial_pressure
Cleveland Clinic (2021, July 28). Pulse Pressure. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21629-pulse-pressure.
Gevers, M., et al. (1993). Calculated mean arterial blood pressure in critically ill neonates. Basic research in cardiology. 80-85. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00788533
Healthline (2021, November 30). Mean Arterial Pressure. https://www.healthline.com/health/mean-arterial-pressure
Heart.org (n.d.). Understanding Blood Pressure Readings. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings.Mahieu, Dries, et al. (2007). Validity of the one-third rule to calculate. mean arterial pressure. Artery Research. 71. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237950912_Validity_of_the_One-Third_Rule_to_Calculate_Mean_Arterial_Pressure
Mayo Clinic (22, March 18). Blood pressure chart: What your reading means. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/blood-pressure/art-20050982
MedicineNet. (2021, August 26). What Is Pulse Pressure and Why Is It Important? https://www.medicinenet.com/what_is_pulse_pressure_and_why_is_it_important/article.htm.
Melgarejo, J. D., et al. (2021). Association of Fatal and Nonfatal Cardiovascular Outcomes With 24-Hour Mean Arterial Pressure. Hypertension. 71 (1): 39–48.https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.14929
Verrij, Elisabeth A., Hieronymus H. Vincent, and Willem JW Bos. (2008). Rule of thumb to calculate mean arterial pressure at the brachial artery level. Journal of Hypertension. 1043-1045. https://journals.lww.com/jhypertension/Citation/2008/05000/Rule_of_thumb_to_calculate_mean_arterial_pressure.29.aspx
Whelton P.K., Carey R.M., Aronow, W.S., Casey D.E, Collins K.J., Himmelfarb C.D., et al. (2018). 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and .management of high blood pressure in adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 71(19):e127–e248. http://www.onlinejacc.org/content/71/19/e127?_ga=2.86879320.1182640551.1528306905-1524800955.1528306905