What Is Normal Blood Pressure by Age?

Blood pressure increases with age, but normal blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg or lower.

Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood on the walls of the arteries as it circulates throughout the body. It is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and is expressed as two numbers. Systolic pressure measures the pressure when the heart contracts and pumps blood into the arteries. Diastolic pressure measures the pressure when the heart relaxes between beats. A blood pressure reading of 120/80 mm Hg indicates a systolic pressure of 120 and a diastolic pressure of 80.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common condition in the United States. Data shows that in 2023, almost 664,470 deaths in the country cited hypertension as either a primary or contributing cause. High blood pressure contributes to dangerous conditions and illnesses, including heart disease and stroke, both of which cause millions of deaths each year.

Nearly half of all people in the U.S. have hypertension, the medical term for high blood pressure. If the pressure is consistently too high, it means your heart is working harder than it should. Over time, this can damage your arteries, heart, brain, and kidneys. It's often called the "silent killer" because high blood pressure usually has no symptoms.

Blood pressure is a vital sign that your healthcare provider routinely measures. The normal blood pressure for adults is 120/80 or less.

The American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, and numerous other organizations published their blood pressure guidelines in 2025. They apply to all adults aged 18 and older, regardless of age.

If a person has a blood pressure that falls into two categories, for example, 135/70, they are put into the category of the higher number. In this case, the patient has stage 1 hypertension, even though their diastolic blood pressure is normal.

As people age, their blood pressure may tend to creep higher by a few mm Hg per decade; however, the normal blood pressure for all ages and genders is 120/80 or less.

A blood pressure chart by age and gender can help you understand how your numbers compare to typical values. While normal blood pressure is generally less than 120/80 mm Hg for adults of all ages, average readings may vary slightly by age and gender.

This blood pressure chart by age shows that although the average blood pressure by age trends slightly higher in older groups, the healthy target remains the same across adults.

Primary (Essential) Hypertension

Primary (Essential) hypertension is the most common type, accounting for about 90-95% of cases in adults. It has no single identifiable cause and tends to develop gradually over many years. There may be a combination of factors in play, such as the following:

• Genetics: A family history of high blood pressure increases the risk.
• Age: The risk of hypertension increases with age. Blood vessels naturally lose some of their elasticity over time, which increase resistance to circulating blood and can contribute to higher pressure.
• Lifestyle factors: This includes a diet high in sodium (salt) and low in potassium, lack of physical activity, being overweight or obese, and excessive alcohol consumption.

Secondary Hypertension

Secondary hypertension is caused by an underlying health condition. It tends to appear suddenly and cause higher blood pressure than primary hypertension.

Some conditions that can lead to secondary hypertension include:

• Kidney disease: Problems with the kidneys are a common cause, as they play a key role in regulating blood pressure.
• Obstructive sleep apnea: This disorder, characterized by interrupted breathing during sleep, is a significant cause.
• Thyroid problems: Both an overactive and underactive thyroid can lead to hypertension.
• Adrenal gland tumors: These glands produce hormones that regulate blood pressure; tumors can disrupt this balance.
• Medications: Cold medicines may contain stimulants like pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine that may increase blood pressure. Birth control pills may increase blood pressure as can caffeine.
• Illegal drugs: Substances like cocaine and amphetamines can cause severe hypertension.

High blood pressure has no symptoms at all and is sometimes called the "silent condition." That is why it is important to have routine healthcare checks so that blood pressure measurements can be taken. Blood pressure can also be measured at home using automated blood pressure devices.

If the blood pressure is very high (180/120 or greater) and symptoms are present, this is called a hypertensive crisis and is a medical emergency.

Symptoms of a hypertensive crisis may include:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Confusion

When you go in for a doctor's visit, they will usually check your blood pressure. This includes going in for normal checkups, specialist visits, OBGYN appointments, and others. This is to ensure that your blood pressure is staying normal, which is important to monitor since there are no symptoms of high blood pressure. If your doctor doesn't take your blood pressure, you can usually request that they do so.

During routine doctor visits, blood pressure is measured with an inflatable cuff around your upper arm. You or your doctor will inflate the cuff, slowly letting air out. A gauge will provide the measurement. It only takes a minute or two and is generally painless. You can also measure your blood pressure at a pharmacy with a measurement machine.

It is important that the appropriate steps are taken to ensure that a blood pressure reading in the office is accurate. The following is the recommended protocol:

• The patient should avoid caffeine, exercise, or smoking for 30 minutes before having the BP checked. Their bladder should be empty as well.
• An automatic blood pressure machine that has been calibrated should be used. A machine is preferred over using a stethoscope.
• The room should be at a comfortable temperature.
• The correctly sized cuff should be used on a bare arm.
• The heart should be supported at the heart level, meaning that the forearm should be resting comfortably on a table, or the patient should be lying flat.
• The patient needs to relax and sit in a chair with their back supported and their legs uncrossed for at least 5 minutes.
• The patient should not talk or be on their phone. The person talking about the blood pressure should not talk as well.
• There should be two blood pressure measurements taken at least one minute apart, and then averaged.

If the blood pressure is elevated, it may be remeasured in the office using an automated machine, or a plan may be made to have the patient measure their blood pressure at home.

If your healthcare provider has made the diagnosis of high blood pressure, lifestyle changes may be the first treatment option. These include the following:

• Diet: Avoiding foods high in salt and consuming low-calorie, high-fiber foods; limiting serving sizes.
• Exercise: Increasing regular physical activity.
• Weight management: Losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight.
• Alcohol: Reducing or limiting alcoholic beverages.

If the blood pressure reading remains high, then medication may be recommended. The choice of medicine needs to be individualized for the patient and their situation.

What's a normal blood pressure for kids?

Normal blood pressure for kids depends on age, height, and gender, but may look like the following:

What is the new blood pressure for seniors?

The American Heart Association recommends a blood pressure of less than 130/80 mmHg for people older than 60.

What is a normal blood pressure for pregnancy?

High blood pressure in pregnancy increases the risk of complications for both the mother and fetus. These may include pre-eclampsia, low birth weight, and premature birth.

Severe hypertension in pregnancy requires immediate medical attention, especially if accompanied by any symptoms.

What is a stroke blood pressure reading?

If the blood pressure is 180/120 or greater, and symptoms of stroke are present, like headache, change in vision, or confusion, this is considered a hypertensive emergency.

When a patient is in the midst of having a stroke, the healthcare providers will have a goal of keeping the blood pressure readings lower than 18/120.

How long can you have high blood pressure before it causes damage?

Uncontrolled hypertension can damage arteries, kidneys, heart, and brain over the years, but severe cases can cause harm much sooner.

The damage from untreated high blood pressure progresses over time. The force of the high pressure starts to stiffen and damage the lining of your arteries. This is the start of arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. This change can happen in months. Over time, the heart has to pump harder against the stiff arteries, and this leads to thickened heart walls (ventricular hypertrophy). As well, the artery damage makes it harder to deliver oxygen to cells in every organ in the body. Over the course of years, organs begin to fail. These include the kidneys, eyes, brain, and heart.

Hypertension is one of the major causes of heart disease and stroke, along with high cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking. They all affect the quality of the arteries in the body.

Why do I have high blood pressure all of a sudden?

Blood pressure readings can spike suddenly due to acute stress, anxiety, intense physical exertion, or as a reaction to certain medications or substances like caffeine or nicotine.

What time of day is blood pressure highest?

Blood pressure readings are typically highest during the middle of the day, around midday, or early afternoon, due to the body's natural circadian rhythm and increased daytime activity and stress.

Can you reverse high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is not reversed, but instead is treated or managed, often with healthy lifestyle modifications. Regular exercise, a balanced low-salt diet, weight management, stress reduction, and limiting alcohol and smoking may help control high blood pressure.

Can drinking lots of water lower blood pressure?

Drinking water helps maintain proper hydration and supports healthy blood vessel function; however, drinking a lot of water doesn't lower high blood pressure. To manage high blood pressure, you need to work on lifestyle changes like healthy eating, exercise, and stress control—and sometimes medicine.