Normal blood pressure by age
For adults, there isn’t a separate “normal” blood-pressure target for each age. Current American Heart Association guidance defines normal adult blood pressure as below 120/80 mmHg, including for older adults, although individual treatment goals can differ.
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professional.heart.org
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Age Normal/healthy adult range
18–39 <120/80 mmHg
40–59 <120/80 mmHg
60–69 <120/80 mmHg
70–79 <120/80 mmHg
80+ <120/80 mmHg is still considered normal, but treatment targets should be individualized
What the numbers mean
Normal: <120 / <80
Elevated: 120–129 / <80
Stage 1 hypertension: 130–139 or 80–89
Stage 2 hypertension: ≥140 or ≥90
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professional.heart.org
A single high reading doesn’t necessarily mean you have hypertension. Blood pressure should generally be assessed using multiple properly taken readings.
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American Heart Association
🚨 When it’s very high
If your blood pressure is over 180/120 mmHg, repeat it after about five minutes. If it remains that high, contact a healthcare professional promptly. If you also have chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness/numbness, vision changes, severe headache, or difficulty speaking, seek emergency medical care immediately.
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American Heart Association
If you tell me your age and your blood-pressure reading (for example, 145/92), I can explain exactly what it means.
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