What Is the Normal Blood Pressure for Each Age?
A common misconception is that normal blood pressure increases with age. For adults, there isn’t a separate “normal” blood-pressure range for each decade. Current American Heart Association guidance defines normal adult blood pressure as below 120/80 mmHg, including for older adults.
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www.heart.org
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Age Normal adult blood pressure
18–39 Below 120/80 mmHg
40–59 Below 120/80 mmHg
60–69 Below 120/80 mmHg
70–79 Below 120/80 mmHg
80+ Below 120/80 mmHg
How to interpret the numbers
Normal: less than 120/80
Elevated: 120–129 and less than 80
High blood pressure, Stage 1: 130–139 or 80–89
Stage 2: 140 or higher or 90 or higher
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www.heart.org
For children and adolescents, it’s different: blood pressure is interpreted according to age, sex, and height, rather than using adult cutoffs.
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NHLBI, NIH
A single high reading doesn’t necessarily mean you have hypertension. It’s better to take properly performed readings on multiple occasions and discuss persistent elevations with a healthcare professional. If blood pressure is over 180/120, especially with chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, vision changes, or difficulty speaking, urgent medical attention is needed.
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www.heart.org
If you give me your age and your latest blood-pressure reading (for example, 145/85), I can explain exactly what it means.
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