Normal Blood Pressure by Age
A common misconception is that there is a different “normal” blood-pressure number for every age. For adults, current guidelines do not set a higher normal BP simply because someone is older. The 2025 AHA/ACC guideline defines normal blood pressure as below 120/80 mmHg.
P
professional.heart.org
+1
Age Normal BP target/level
18–39 <120/80 mmHg
40–59 <120/80 mmHg
60–69 <120/80 mmHg
70–79 <120/80 mmHg
80+ Individualized by the clinician
How to interpret an adult reading
Normal: <120 systolic and <80 diastolic
Elevated: 120–129 and <80
Stage 1 hypertension: 130–139 or 80–89
Stage 2 hypertension: ≥140 or ≥90
P
professional.heart.org
Importantly, treatment decisions aren’t based on age alone. Doctors also consider cardiovascular risk, previous stroke or heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, medications, frailty, and overall health. The current guideline generally aims for <130/80 mmHg in adults being treated for hypertension, with individual adjustments when appropriate.
P
professional.heart.org
Don’t judge your blood pressure from one isolated reading. Ideally, take multiple properly performed readings and look at the average over time.
If you give me your age and your recent BP readings (for example, 145/85), I can explain exactly what they mean.
P
Sources
