What Is a Normal Blood Pressure Reading?

For most people, a normal blood pressure reading is around 120/80 mmHg (pronounced "120 over 80"). There can be a fair amount of variation in this reading, depending on a person's overall health and other physical characteristics.

Even how a person is feeling at the moment their blood pressure is read can affect the reading. For example, nervousness can temporarily cause the heart to beat faster and it can also cause blood pressure to increase. This is common among people who become anxious during doctor visits. In fact, high blood pressure in these circumstances sometimes is referred to as white coat hypertension.

Hypertension is chronically high blood pressure. Hypertension or blood pressure that tends to be chronically below normal (hypotension) can be an indication of a health problem. For example, hypertension can signal an underlying heart problem.

For this reason, it's a good idea to know what your usual blood pressure reading is so that you and your doctor will be able to recognize changes that could be concerning.

What is Blood Pressure?

When your heart beats, blood travels through your body to deliver oxygen to cells, tissues, and organs. The blood exerts pressure on the inner walls of your arteries .

There are two aspects of blood pressure, systolic and diastolic, which accounts for the two numbers that are used to measure it:

Blood pressure is measured using an inflatable blood pressure cuff attached to a meter that detects the amount of force blood puts on arterial walls during and between heartbeats, expressing this pressure as millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

Normal vs. Abnormal Blood Pressure

Both high blood pressure and low pressure can indicate a health issue, although hypertension typically is more of a concern than hypotension. The American Heart Association guidelines define five categories of blood pressure values.

Systolic pressure generally is given more consideration for people 50 and older because it tends to rise steadily with age as arteries become less pliable and plaque begins to build up, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure increases the workload on the heart and is associated with the damage of arteries throughout the body. Over time, chronic hypertension increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, organ failure, and kidney disease.

The American Heart Association recognizes five categories of blood pressure ranging from normal to dangerously high :

High blood pressure does not cause obvious symptoms, so it's advisable to get regular medical exams and see your doctor if you suspect anything might be wrong. Some steps in your daily life can prevent hypertension, such as eating a healthy diet, cutting back on added salt, exercising regularly, not smoking, and if you drink alcohol, imbibing in moderation.

Low Blood Pressure

Hypotension is less well-defined than hypertension, and 90/60 mmHg is generally regarded as too low. Low blood pressure can occur due to things like dehydration or vascular disease, and it becomes problematic when it causes symptoms:

• Fainting
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Rapid, shallow breathing
• Blurred vision
• Cold, clammy, pale skin
• Depression
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Impaired ability to concentrate

A Word From Verywell

Normal blood pressure can vary a little and so what's normal for you may not be normal for someone else. However, blood pressure that's out of the normal range should be treated. The next time your doctor measures your blood pressure, ask them what the numbers are so that you will have an idea of where you stand. (Obviously, if your blood pressure is alarmingly high or low your doctor will tell you right away if treatment is necessary.) Finally, learning to take your own blood pressure at home may be worthwhile with the guidance of your doctor.