What Blood Pressure Is Considered Normal

A healthy blood pressure is crucial to reducing the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.

What blood pressure is considered normal. The larger issue is that many men ages 65 and older suddenly find themselves diagnosed with elevated or high blood pressure since the new normal is a whopping 20 points lower than before. This new range represents a change from previous guidelines which classified pressures up to and including 120 80 as normal. However based on new information in the guidelines your doctor may propose treating your blood pressure to a lower level he says. If your blood pressure isn t normal a healthy lifestyle oftentimes along with medication can help bring it under control and reduce your risk of life threatening complications.

If your blood pressure is normal maintaining or adopting a healthy lifestyle can prevent or delay the onset of high blood pressure or other health problems. Normal blood pressure is defined as less than 120 80. But even if your diastolic number is lower than 80 you can have elevated blood pressure if the systolic reading is 120 129. The 2017 guideline from the american heart association and the american college of cardiology says a normal blood pressure reading is anything lower than 130 over 80.

The american heart association revised its guidelines about what an optimal blood pressure range is and when blood pressure is considered too high or too low. 80 89 is stage 1. Readings higher than 140 systolic or 90 diastolic is considered high.