What Is Normal Blood Pressure for Your Age?
For most adults, normal blood pressure does not change to a higher “normal” range simply because you get older. The American Heart Association defines normal adult blood pressure as:
Systolic (top number): below 120 mmHg
Diastolic (bottom number): below 80 mmHg
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www.heart.org
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Adult blood-pressure categories
Reading Category
<120 / <80 Normal
120–129 / <80 Elevated
130–139 or 80–89 Stage 1 hypertension
≥140 or ≥90 Stage 2 hypertension
>180 and/or >120 Severe hypertension
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www.heart.org
So, for example, 118/76 can be a healthy reading for a 40-, 60-, or 80-year-old adult. A reading such as 145/90 shouldn’t automatically be considered “normal for your age.”
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www.heart.org
What about children?
Children are different. Their blood pressure is interpreted according to age, sex, and height, rather than using the adult cutoffs alone.
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NHLBI, NIH
🚨 When is it an emergency?
If blood pressure is over 180/120 mmHg, repeat the measurement after a short rest. If it remains that high, contact a healthcare professional immediately. If it is accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness/numbness, vision changes, severe headache, or difficulty speaking, seek emergency care.
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www.heart.org
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A single unusual reading doesn’t necessarily diagnose hypertension; repeated measurements and proper technique are important.
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www.heart.org
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