Normal blood pressure by age
There isn’t a separate “normal” blood-pressure number for every age. For adults, clinicians generally use the same categories rather than an age-specific chart.
For adults, blood pressure is written as systolic/diastolic (mmHg):
| Category | Systolic | Diastolic |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | <120 | and <80 |
| Elevated | 120–129 | and <80 |
| High BP — Stage 1 | 130–139 | or 80–89 |
| High BP — Stage 2 | ≥140 | or ≥90 |
| Severely high | >180 | and/or >120 |
A diagnosis of hypertension generally isn’t made from one reading alone. Blood pressure can vary with stress, activity, caffeine, pain, and how the measurement is taken.
What about people over 65?
Being older doesn’t mean that a blood pressure such as 150/90 is automatically normal. Treatment targets are individualized based on overall health, other medical conditions, medications, and the person’s risk of falls or low blood pressure.
Get urgent help for very high readings
If your blood pressure is 180/120 or higher, repeat the measurement after a few minutes of quiet rest. If it remains that high, contact a healthcare professional promptly. If it’s accompanied by chest pain, severe headache, shortness of breath, weakness/numbness, confusion, or vision changes, seek emergency medical care.
For the most accurate home reading, sit quietly for about 5 minutes, keep your feet flat on the floor, support your arm at heart level, and take two readings about a minute apart.
