Before we get into the nitty-gritty of what the average blood pressure should be based on your age. The main question remains, what is blood pressure?
Blood pressure refers to the measurement of the pressure of your blood applied across your inner artery walls.
Did you know?
Average normal blood pressure differs based on sex and changes according to your age!
An average person’s blood pressure tends to remain constant throughout the day. But there are minor fluctuations in the blood pressure readings, for example when you are relaxed your blood pressure decreases. And when you are stressed your blood pressure increases.
Persistently high or chronically low blood pressure is associated with health risks, which is why it is important to monitor your blood pressure.
In this article, we will look at the different average blood pressure chart readings you should have according to your age, health risks associated with “abnormal” blood pressure, and what you can do to monitor your blood pressure.
What Do The BP Numbers Mean?
The blood pressure readings comprise of two numbers the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure.
The first number, the systolic pressure measures the highest blood pressure in your heart when your heart beats or contracts. The second number in the reading, the diastolic blood pressure refers to the lowest blood pressure in your heart in between the heart beats or when it dilates or expands.
So now whenever you look at the reading of blood pressure that states 120/80 mm Hg you will know which one is the systolic reading and which one is diastolic.
The abbreviation mm Hg is the standard unit of measure for Blood pressure which stands for “millimeters of mercury.”
Blood Pressure Chart Readings for Different Ages
The following chart shows normal blood pressure for males and females at different ages. The chart comprises Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and Systolic blood pressure (SBP).
Males Blood Pressue Table
| Age | SBP | DBP |
| 21-25 | 120.5 | 78.5 |
| 26-30 | 119.5 | 76.5 |
| 31-35 | 114.5 | 75.5 |
| 36-40 | 120.5 | 75.5 |
| 41-45 | 115.5 | 78.5 |
| 46-50 | 119.5 | 80.5 |
| 51-55 | 125.5 | 80.5 |
| 56-60 | 129.5 | 79.5 |
| 61-65 | 143.5 | 76.5 |
For men, the age group with the lowest normal blood pressure reading is for the age 31-35 at 114.5/75.5. Whilst the highest normal blood pressure reading is 143.5/76.5 for the age group of 61-65.
Females Blood Pressue Table
| Age | SBP | DBP |
| 21-25 | 115.5 | 70.5 |
| 26-30 | 113.5 | 71.5 |
| 31-35 | 110.5 | 72.5 |
| 36-40 | 112.5 | 74.5 |
| 41-45 | 116.5 | 73.5 |
| 46-50 | 124 | 78.5 |
| 51-55 | 122.5 | 74.5 |
| 56-60 | 132.5 | 78.5 |
| 61-65 | 130.5 | 77.5 |
For women, the lowest normal blood pressure varies according to the systolic and diastolic reading. Where women aged 21-25 have the lowest normal diastolic reading at 115.5 whilst women aged 31-35 have the lowest normal systolic reading at 110.5. And the age group to have the highest normal blood pressure is 56-60 at 132.5/78.5.
Normal Blood Pressure For Children
In a manner similar to adults there is a certain range in which a child’s blood pressure is said to be healthy. The following chart shows the different age groups of children and their Diastolic and Systolic readings:
| Age | SBP | DBP |
| Newborn | 60-90 | 20-60 |
| Infant | 87-105 | 53-66 |
| Toddler | 95-105 | 53-66 |
| Preschooler | 95-110 | 56-70 |
| School-aged | 97-112 | 57-71 |
| Adolescent | 112-128 | 66-80 |
Different Categories of Blood Pressure
There are five different stages of blood pressure which are:
- Normal – Blood pressure is considered to be normal below 120/80 mm Hg
- Elevated – Blood pressure readings ranging from 120-129 systolic and less than 80 mm Hg diastolic is considered to be elevated. It isn’t necessarily a matter of concern but it is advised to control the blood pressure as it is at the risk of getting higher.
- Hypertension stage Ⅰ – Blood pressure readings ranging from 130-130 systolic or 80-89 mm Hg diastolic consistently is considered to be hypertension stage Ⅰ. Usually at this stage doctors advise a few lifestyle changes and prescribe blood pressure medication to avoid health risks such as strokes.
- Hypertension stage Ⅱ – Blood pressure reading range from 140/90 mm Hg or higher. In this condition, doctors advise a combination of lifestyle changes as well as medications.
- Hypertensive crisis – Blood pressure exceeding 180/120 mm Hg requires immediate medical attention as it is a sign of a critical condition such as worsening organ damage.
Treatment For High Blood Pressure
If you fear for your health and are at the risk of high blood pressure, don’t worry some lifestyle changes mentioned below will aid you in controlling your high blood pressure:
- Eat foods that are low in sodium and heart-healthy
- Avoid stress – take up meditation and stress relieving exercises
- Don’t smoke
- Limit your alcohol intake (it would be best to avoid alcohol)
- Lose weight
- Limit caffeine intake
- Eat foods that are rich in potassium, calcium, and magnesium
Treatment For Low Blood Pressure
IF you are a victim of low blood pressure. Don’t worry here are a few solutions to your problems. You can adopt the following habits to treat your low blood pressure:
- Consume fluids (many of them)
- Avoid alcohol
- Change your standing and sitting habits – Don’t stand or sit in a hurry
- Exercise to encourage blood flow
- Stay hydrated always
- Avoid strenuous and heavy lifting activities
- Avoid exposure to hot water
Want to know more about managing your blood pressure without medications? Don’t forget to check this article!
Summary
The average normal blood pressure for every age and gender differs which is why you should be informed about what is the normal blood pressure for your particular age group. In this case, the charts given above will prove to be helpful.
If your blood pressure is above normal you could adopt a few of the healthy lifestyle changes to control or increase your blood pressure. But it would still be advised to visit a doctor for the best advice and treatment.
Adopting a healthy diet, quitting smoking and alcohol, and exercising are advised to everyone as you age as you are at risk of developing hypertension.
According to WHO high blood pressure causes 7.5 million deaths. It contributes a massive 12.8% of worldwide deaths! Not only that it also leads to 57 million disability-adjusted life years!
We have all heard the saying “It’s better to be safe than sorry”, and it should be taken seriously when it comes to our health. This is why it is best to be informed about the different measures that can be taken to improve your health.
We have done our part in informing you, now it’s your turn to adopt a healthy lifestyle!