Blood Pressure Chart: High, Low, Normal Readings
Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2017/11/19 - Updated: 2025/02/11
Publication Type: Charts, Graphs, Tables
Topic: Medical Calculators and Charts - Publications List
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main
Synopsis: The blood pressure chart and accompanying information provided by Disabled World is a valuable resource for understanding and monitoring cardiovascular health. It offers a comprehensive overview of blood pressure ranges, including normal, elevated, and hypertensive levels, along with age-specific guidelines. The chart clearly illustrates the systolic and diastolic pressure values associated with different health statuses, making it easy for individuals to interpret their own readings. Additionally, the article provides insights into factors affecting blood pressure, measurement techniques, and important facts about blood pressure variations across different demographics. This information allows readers to better understand their blood pressure readings and recognize potential health risks - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
NOTE: High blood pressure often does not cause any signs of illness that you can see or feel. It is important to make an appointment with your doctor or another healthcare provider to check your blood pressure.
Main Item
What Does Blood Pressure Refer To?
Blood pressure refers to the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels and constitutes one of the body's principal vital signs. The pressure of the circulating blood decreases as blood moves through your arteries, arterioles, capillaries, and veins. The term blood pressure generally refers to your arterial pressure, i.e., the pressure in the larger arteries, arteries being the blood vessels that take blood away from the heart. Blood pressure is always given as two numbers;
- Systolic Pressure (when the heart beats)
- Diastolic Pressure (when the heart relaxes)
When the measurements are written, both are written as one above or before, the other with the systolic being the first number, for example, 120/75 (120 over 75). Blood pressure measurement is NOT the same as your heart rate (pulse) or maximum heart rate measurement. Check what your heart rate for your age should be. You can calculate your predicted maximum heart rate by using the calculation: 220 - (age) = Age Predicted Maximum Heart Rate - or see our Target Heart Rate Calculator and Chart.
Measuring Your Blood Pressure
Healthcare professionals use a stethoscope and a manual sphygmomanometer to measure your blood pressure. Typically, they take the reading above your elbow. The sphygmomanometer has a bladder, cuff, bulb, and gauge. When the bulb is pumped, it inflates the bladder inside the cuff wrapped around your arm. This inflation will stop the blood flow in your arteries.
The stethoscope is used to listen for the sound of the heartbeat, and no sound indicates no flow. As the pressure is released from the bladder, you will hear the blood flowing again. That point becomes reading your blood pressure systolic. The diastolic reading is when you hear no sound again, which means the blood flow is back to normal.
Blood Pressure Chart For Adults
| Blood Pressure | Systolic mm Hg | Diastolic mm Hg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Less Than 120 | and | Less Than 80 |
| Blood pressure numbers of less than 120/80 are considered within the normal range. Keep up heart-healthy habits, follow a balanced diet, and exercise regularly. | |||
| Elevated | 120 - 129 | and | Less Than 80 |
| This level of blood pressure is when readings consistently range from 120-129 systolic and less than 80 mm Hg diastolic. Steps should be taken to control your blood pressure. | |||
| Hypertension Stage 1 | 130 - 139 | or | 80 - 89 |
| At this stage of high blood pressure, doctors are likely to prescribe lifestyle changes. They may consider adding blood pressure medication based on your risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack or stroke. | |||
| Hypertension Stage 2 | 140 or Over | or | 90 or Over |
| At this stage of high blood pressure, doctors are likely to prescribe a combination of blood pressure medications and lifestyle changes. | |||
| Hypertensive Crisis | Over 180 | and/or | Over 120 |
| This level of high blood pressure requires medical attention immediately. You may experience chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness or weakness, change in vision, or difficulty speaking. | |||
| Normal, healthy, and unhealthy blood pressure ranges as recommended by the American Heart Association. | |||
Blood Pressure Chart By Age
Creating a comprehensive blood pressure chart by age involves several factors, including gender and health status. However, here's a general guideline for blood pressure ranges by age for adults:
| Age Group | Systolic BP (mm Hg) | Diastolic BP (mm Hg) |
|---|---|---|
| 18-29 | 120-129 | 80-84 |
| 30-39 | 120-129 | 80-84 |
| 40-49 | 130-139 | 85-89 |
| 50-59 | 130-139 | 85-89 |
| 60+ | 140 or higher | 90 or higher |
NOTE: These ranges are based on guidelines from organizations like the American Heart Association. However, individual health conditions and other factors may influence what's considered a normal range for blood pressure. A healthcare provider recommends you get your blood pressure checked at least once a year. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure (or other related conditions), your doctor may recommend getting it checked more often.
Human Blood Pressure Facts
- The general pattern is that blood pressure rises with age, so normal variations are higher for older adults.
- Blood pressure can be higher in obese people because the heart has to work harder to perfuse the body's tissues.
- Factors that influence blood pressure include age, sex, ethnicity, weight, exercise, emotions/stress, pregnancy, and diurnal rhythm, as well as medication use and disease processes.
- Blood pressure is similar in childhood for males and females. After puberty, females have a lower blood pressure than males, whereas, after menopause, females have a higher blood pressure than males.
- The sympathetic nervous system is stimulated by exercise, stress, anxiety, pain, anger, and fear, which increases blood pressure. Blood pressure returns to baseline within five minutes of rest following activity.
- The diurnal cycle influences blood pressure to be lower in the morning and increase throughout the day until early evening. This is one reason healthcare providers document the time a client's blood pressure is taken.
- Research has revealed that ethnicity may be a predictor of blood pressure, but this causation is not necessarily biological but rather sociocultural. When determining the risk for high blood pressure, it is important to consider ethnicity as a contributing factor.
- Blood pressure varies throughout the duration of pregnancy. It decreases about halfway through the first trimester until mid-pregnancy due to progesterone effects that relax the walls of blood vessels, causing decreased peripheral vascular resistance. It returns to pre-pregnancy values toward the end of pregnancy.
Printable High, Low, Normal Blood Pressure Chart
Nearly half, over 119 million, American adults have high blood pressure. But only about 1 in 4 of those people have their condition under control. Many people develop high blood pressure when they are in their late 30's or early 40's, and it occurs more frequently as people age. However, because of the obesity epidemic, more and more children are also developing high blood pressure - fda.gov
Author Credentials: Ian was born and grew up in Australia. Since then, he has traveled and lived in numerous locations and currently resides in Montreal, Canada. Ian is the founder, a writer, and editor in chief for Disabled World. Ian believes in the Social Model of Disability, a belief developed by disabled people in the 1970s. The social model changes the focus away from people's impairments and towards removing barriers that disabled people face daily. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and achievements, check out his bio.