November 04, 2022

Healthy Blood Pressure by Age and Gender (Chart)

woman checking her blood pressure

Blood pressure is the force your blood exerts against the walls of arteries as your heart beats. Blood pressure readings have two numbers, such as 122/79 mm Hg. The descriptor at the end stands for “millimeters of mercury,” which blood pressure gauges used to contain. 

The top number (called the systolic pressure) is the force each time your heart beats. The bottom number (diastolic pressure) is the force between beats. 

Maintaining healthy blood pressure is important, as readings outside the normal range can be problematic. Untreated high blood pressure, in particular, can damage the blood vessels, heart, kidneys, and brain.   

What is Normal Blood Pressure by Age?

What’s considered “normal” blood pressure varies by age in children and teens.

SystolicDiastolic
Newborns up to 1 month       60–90 mm Hg 20–60 mm Hg
Infants87–105 mm Hg53–66 mm Hg
Toddlers95–105 mm Hg53–66 mm Hg
Preschoolers95–110 mm Hg56–70 mm Hg
School-aged children97–112 mm Hg          57–71 mm Hg
Adolescents112–128 mm Hg66–80 mm Hg

In adulthood, the average blood pressures by age and gender are:

WomenMen
18-39 years110/68 mm Hg119/70 mm Hg           
40-59 years122/74 mm Hg124/77 mm Hg
60+ years139/68 mm Hg133/69 mm Hg

Beyond the averages in the blood pressure chart by age and gender above, adult blood pressure falls into one of five categories:

CategorySystolicDiastolic
NormalLess than 120andLess than 80
Elevated120–129andLess than 80
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Stage 1130–139or80 – 89
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Stage 2140 or higheror90 or higher
Hypertensive Crisis – Consult your doctor immediatelyHigher than 180and/orHigher than 120

Taking Your Blood Pressure at Home

You can take your blood pressure at home periodically to determine if it consistently falls within the acceptable blood pressure range by age and gender. This can be particularly helpful to people with what doctors call “white coat hypertension.” That’s elevated blood pressure due to the anxiety over being at the doctor’s office (where they traditionally wear white lab coats).

If you take home readings, be sure to:

  • Buy a blood pressure monitor designed to go around your upper arm. Readings from devices that attach to your finger or wrist may not be as accurate.
  • Get a monitor that inflates automatically and has a large readout that’s easy to see.
  • Be aware that some monitors can share data with an app on your phone for tracking your blood pressure trends. 
  • Don’t consume beverages containing caffeine or alcohol in the 30 minutes before taking your reading. 
  • Sit calmly in a chair with your back supported and legs uncrossed for five minutes before checking your blood pressure. 
  • Have your arm supported and at approximately heart level. 
  • Put the blood pressure cuff over bare skin. 
  • Don’t talk or move as the cuff is working.
  • Take one reading, leave the cuff on and stay still, then take a second. If the readings are similar, average them. If not, take a third reading and average the three. 
  • Record the average reading, along with the time of day.  

Get Help with Maintaining Healthy, Normal Blood Pressure

If you have high blood pressure—or low blood pressure, which can also require treatment—your primary care doctor can help you control it. And if needed, they can refer you to the heart care specialists at Baptist Health.   


Learn More.

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