Here’s a breakdown by age:
Children and Adolescents
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1–5 years: ~95/65 mmHg
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6–13 years: ~105/70 mmHg
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14–18 years: ~110–120 / 70–80 mmHg
Pediatric blood pressure is more variable; doctors often refer to percentile charts rather than fixed numbers.
Adults
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18–39 years: 120/80 mmHg is considered ideal
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40–59 years: 120–80 mmHg to 130–85 mmHg is typical
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60+ years: 130–85 mmHg is acceptable; slightly higher systolic is common with age
Guidelines
According to the American Heart Association (AHA):
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Normal: <120 / <80 mmHg
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Elevated: 120–129 / <80 mmHg
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Hypertension Stage 1: 130–139 / 80–89 mmHg
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Hypertension Stage 2: ≥140 / ≥90 mmHg
Older adults often tolerate slightly higher systolic pressures, but diastolic ideally stays <90 mmHg.
💡 Tips for accurate measurement:
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Sit quietly for 5 minutes before measuring
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Use the correct cuff size
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Measure at the same time daily if monitoring at home
If you want, I can make a handy chart of “normal blood pressure by every decade” that’s easy to reference at a glance. It’s really useful for tracking trends over time. Do you want me to make that chart?