Normal blood pressure for most adults is defined as a systolic reading of less than 120 mm Hg and a diastolic reading of less than 80 mm Hg. This standard, established by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology in 2017, categorizes any reading of 130/80 mm Hg or higher as hypertension.
Blood pressure categories and their corresponding ranges are summarized below:
| Category | Systolic (mm Hg) | Diastolic (mm Hg) |
| Normal | Less than 120 | Less than 80 |
| Elevated | 120 – 129 | Less than 80 |
| Stage 1 Hypertension | 130 – 139 | 80 – 89 |
| Stage 2 Hypertension | 140 or higher | 90 or higher |
| Hypertensive Crisis | 180 or higher | 120 or higher |
While 120/80 mm Hg is the general target, average readings can vary slightly by age and gender:
Ages 18–39: Women average 110/68 mm Hg; Men average 119/70 mm Hg.
Ages 40–59: Women average 122/74 mm Hg; Men average 124/77 mm Hg.
Ages 60+: Women average 139/68 mm Hg; Men average 133/69 mm Hg.
Low blood pressure (hypotension) is generally considered to be below 90/60 mm Hg, though this is only a cause for concern if accompanied by symptoms like dizziness or fainting. Individual targets may differ based on medical history, so it is recommended to consult a healthcare provider for a personalized assessment.
ELI5: Long term effects of high blood pressure
No matter how much training a person does, there are still periods of rest and recovery during that training. No one has an elevated blood pressure level for a solid 8 hours, no matter how much training they do.
Another factor: training elevates your heart rate, making the heart stronger. Elevated blood pressure is usually due to less healthy factors, diet, stress, genetics. When BP goes up during activity, it's to compensate for the additional needs of the body in action. If your body is trying to "run hot" while resting, something isn't working correctly.
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TL;DR: See a doctor. Soon.
That's no normal range that I've ever heard of. It is possibly the range they use to determine who is allowed to give blood. In my line of work, 90/50 is "he's going to pass out any time now" and 180/100 is "he's heading for a stroke." See a doctor. Soon.
The first number is called the systolic and it represents the maximum pressure inside the arteries when the larger lower sections of the heart (ventricles) pump. The second number is called the diastolic and it represents the minimum pressure inside the arteries when the smaller upper sections of the heart (auricles) are pumping to refill the ventricles. In terms of tire pressure, the systolic is when you run over a curb and the diastolic is when the car is just sitting there. Too high a systolic can cause an instant blowout. Too high a diastolic can cause gradual long term damage which may not show itself until much later (a slow leak or unexpected blowout when you're not jumping a curb).
Early blood pressure devices read and amplified the pressure inside and the flexibility of blood vessels and indicated them in the change in millimeters of mercury in thin tubes. Modern devices provide readings in the same scale but use different methods.
Blood pressure can be affected by genetics, hormones, anxiety, diet, exercise, weight, and other factors. Weighing 295 pounds (135 kilos) can certainly influence blood pressure (though some heavy people have perfectly normal blood pressure and some thin people don't -- lots of factors involved here).
A single high blood pressure reading is nothing to worry about. You might have been anxious about giving blood or found the person taking your blood pressure to be particularly attractive. A series of high readings might indicate a problem. You can pick up a simple blood pressure cuff at Wal-Mart for $20. It might be worth it to get one and monitor your blood pressure several times a day over several days. If your blood pressure is still over /90 or so, see a doctor. See a doctor soon anyway.
(Rant: Do not let the doctor blame everything on your weight. Yes, weight can affect blood pressure. Yes, losing weight can reduce blood pressure. But there are plenty of people with low/normal/high blood pressure at every weight. Eating better, exercising more, losing weight, lowering anxiety, and other methods may very well eventually lower your blood pressure, but finding the right pill will lower it now and keep it down while you work together to find a more permanent solution.)
More on reddit.comEarly 20s, very healthy, but high blood pressure?
Does high blood pressure run in your family? It could be genetic.
If this is the case you should talk to your doctor about it. If you cannot manage it through lifestyle you might need to medicate it (I am not a doctor and you should take your doctors advice on this not mine).
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