Blood pressure is the force your blood exerts against the walls of your blood vessels as your heart beats. Blood pressure readings have two numbers, such as 122/79 mm Hg (which would be pronounced "122 _over_ 79"). The description at the end stands for 'millimeters of mercury', which used to be in blood pressure monitors.
The top number (called the systolic pressure) is the force each time your heart beats. The bottom number (diastolic pressure) is the force between strokes.
Maintenancehealthy blood pressureis critical because measurements outside the normal range can be problematic. Untreated high blood pressure (also called hypertension) in particular can damage blood vessels, the heart, kidneys and brain.
The blood pressure that doctors consider normal changes throughout a person's life. But what is the normal blood pressure according to age? This article answers that question and provides information about gender differences in normal blood pressure.
What is normal blood pressure according to age?
Normal blood pressure depends in part on age, with varying levels from newborns to older adults. What is the ideal blood pressure by age? The diagrams below contain the details.
| Systolic | Diastolic | |
| Newborns up to 1 month | 60-90 mm Hg | 20–60 mm Hg |
| Infants | 87–105 mm Hg | 53-66 mm Hg |
| Little children | 95–105 mm Hg | 53-66 mm Hg |
| Preschoolers | 95–110 mm Hg | 56-70 mmHg |
| Children of school age | 97–112 mm Hg | 57-71 mm Hg |
| Teenagers | 112–128 mm Hg | 66-80 mmHg |
In adulthood, the average blood pressure by age and gender is:
| Women | Gentlemen | |
| 18-39 years | 110/68 mm Hg | 119/70 mm Hg |
| 40-59 years | 122/74 mmHg | 124/77 mm Hg |
| 60+ years | 139/68 mmHg | 133/69 mm Hg |
In addition to the averages in the blood pressure chart by age and gender above, blood pressure in adults falls into one of five categories:
| Categories | Systolic | Diastolic | |
| Normal | Less than 120 | In | Less than 80 |
| Cancelled | 120-129 | In | Less than 80 |
| High blood pressure (hypertension) phase 1 | 130-139 | of | 80 – 89 |
| High blood pressure (hypertension) phase 2 | 140 or higher | of | 90 or higher |
| Hypertensive crisis - Contact your doctor immediately | Higher than 180 | one of | Higher than 120 |
Blood pressure and stroke
High blood pressure increases the risk of many health problems. One of the most serious is a stroke.
Persistent high blood pressure damages blood vessels throughout the body, including the brain, making them more susceptible to blockages and ruptures. Strokes can occur in two ways. An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot narrows or completely blocks a blood vessel in the brain. Due to the blockage, part of the brain does not receive enough oxygen and dies.
In a cerebral hemorrhage, a blood vessel in the brain bursts. This condition deprives part of the brain of oxygen and can also cause pressure in the skull that damages brain tissue.
Strokes can quickly cause severe brain damage, resulting in permanent disability or death. What is blood pressure in a stroke? There are many factors that contribute to having a stroke, but a blood pressure reading above 130/80 mm Hg can increase the risk. A pressure higher than 180/120 is considered a hypertensive crisis that requires immediate medical attention as it significantly increases the risk of stroke or other serious health problems.
Reducing the risk of stroke is one of the biggest benefits of maintaining healthy blood pressure.
Concerns about the diastolic number in blood pressure
It is common for people to focus on the systolic number when measuring blood pressure because this is the maximum force exerted when the heart beats. However, the diastolic number is also important.
Is 140 over 70 good blood pressure? No, because the number 140 indicates high blood pressure. What about 119 over 90? Again, no. The figure of 119 is within the normal range, but 90 is higher than recommended. In other words, normal systolic blood pressure with elevated diastolic blood pressure is still considered hypertension.
What is an alarming diastolic number? As the chart above indicates, a diastolic blood pressure higher than 180/120 is considered a hypertensive crisis. It requires immediate medical attention.
Lower... But not too low
The challenge with blood pressure is usually to bring it within the normal range. However, it is important to understand that blood pressure can be too low.
Systolic blood pressure that is consistently lower than normal can cause problems such as dizziness and fainting. A low diastolic number can indicate heart problems. If you measure your blood pressure at home (see below) and it is too high or too low, contact your doctor.
Measure your blood pressure at home
You can take periodic measurements at home to determine if the readings are consistently within the acceptable blood pressure range based on age and gender. This can be especially helpful for people with what doctors call "white coat hypertension." It is high blood pressure due to the fear of being in the doctor's office (where they traditionally wear white lab coats).
When you take it home, make sure you:
- Buy a blood pressure monitor designed to wear around your upper arm. Measurements from devices that attach to your finger or wrist may not be as accurate.
- Buy a display that inflates automatically and has a large reading that is easy to see.
- Keep in mind that some monitors can share data with an app on your phone to track your blood pressure trends.
- Do not drink beverages containing caffeine or alcohol in the 30 minutes before reading.
- Sit quietly in a chair with your back supported and legs uncrossed for five minutes before checking your blood pressure.
- Let your arm be supported and approximately at heart height.
- Place the blood pressure cuff over bare skin.
- Do not talk or move while the cuff is working.
- Take a measurement, leave the cuff on and stand still, then take a moment. If the readings are the same, calculate the average. If not, take a third measurement and calculate the average of the three.
- Record the average value along with the time of day.
Get help to maintain healthy, normal blood pressure
If you have high or low blood pressure, your doctor can help you control it. And if necessary, they can refer youheart specialistshos Baptist Health.
Next steps and helpful resources
- How do blood pressure numbers indicate a healthy heart?
- Just one thing: know your blood pressure number
- High blood pressure and heart disease
