Average Blood Pressure by Age — Am I Normal?
The top number, measured seated and rested. Filter by age and sex for a fair comparison.
What is a normal blood pressure?+
Per the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline: normal is under 120/80 mmHg; 120–129 systolic is "elevated"; 130–139 is stage 1 hypertension; 140+ is stage 2. A reading at or above 180/120 is a hypertensive crisis needing prompt care. This poll tracks the systolic (top) number.
Does blood pressure rise with age?+
Systolic pressure tends to drift up across adulthood as arteries stiffen, which is why the age filter matters — but "common with age" is not the same as "optimal." Lower-for-longer systolic pressure tracks lower lifetime cardiovascular and dementia risk.
How should I measure blood pressure accurately?+
Sit with back supported and feet flat, arm at heart height, after 5 minutes of rest and no caffeine/exercise for 30 minutes. Take 2–3 readings a minute apart and average them. Home readings over several days beat a single clinic reading.
What lowers blood pressure?+
Aerobic exercise, weight loss, reducing sodium and alcohol, raising potassium (vegetables, fruit), better sleep, and treating sleep apnea all lower it. Persistent readings at stage 1+ warrant a clinician and sometimes medication.
See how you compare.
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