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Blood pressure is the force exerted against the walls of the arteries and veins by blood as it circulates through the body. Blood pressure is one of the body's most important vital signs, and should be carefully monitored, especially by persons who have or are at risk for abnormally high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. But what, exactly, is a “normal” blood pressure level for adults? While there is no single answer, since individuals’ vital signs can vary significantly by age, weight, general health, body type, and other variables, there are ranges that are considered normal for adult blood pressure. Knowing these ranges for your blood pressure is very important, and keeping tabs on your blood pressure level can help you maintain awareness of your cardiac health.

Why Worry about Normal Blood Pressure in Adults?

High blood pressure can indicate or contribute to the presence of serious health conditions, including heart disease, arterial aneurysm, stroke, enlargement of the heart, and kidney disease. Persons suffering from diabetes should also carefully monitor their blood pressure. For these reasons, maintaining blood pressure within a normal range is one of the most important things you can do for yourself.

How is Blood Pressure Measured?

Usually, blood pressure is measured using an instrument called a sphygmomanometer. The sphygmomanometer has a cuff that can be placed around the arm and inflated with air, putting pressure on the arteries in the arm. The pressure then squeezes the artery closed. By placing a stethoscope on the area of the arm over the artery and below the cuff, an examiner can listen for the sound of the pulse of blood returning to the artery as pressure is slowly released, noting the pressure at which the pulse returns. The pressure reading at which the blood returns is the “systolic” blood pressure. The point at which no further sounds can be heard because of the full return of blood volume is the "diastolic" blood pressure. The blood pressure reading is stated as the systolic number followed by the diastolic number.

Normal Ranges

For adults, a normal blood pressure reading is usually considered to be in the range between 90/60 to 119/79 (systolic/diastolic). Blood pressure from the 120/80 to 139/89 range is considered “pre-hypertensic,” and should be closely monitored. Measurements higher than the pre-hypertensic ranges fall within either type 1 or type 2 hypertension. If your blood pressure is higher than normal for adults, your physician may advise medication to lower your blood pressure into the normal adult range.

For more information please visit my Dangerous High Blood Pressure Website

Blood pressure is the force applied to the walls of the blood vessels, arteries and veins when the heart pumps blood around the body. Blood pressure, which is counted in millimeters of mercury, has two separate readings. The systolic reading measures the blood pressure when the heart is beating or contracting.  The diastolic reading is the measure of pressure between contractions, and is always a lower figure.

In the past a normal blood pressure range was considered less than 130/85 and more than 90/60, but the parameters have changed in the past few years. Now a consistent reading of 120/80 or more is considered a sign of prehypertension, a warning to change your habits and lower your blood pressure. The new normal blood pressure range is between 90/60 and 119/79.

Lower Readings

A blood pressure measurement of 90/60 is considered borderline low. A reading of 60/40 is too low and medical treatment is required to correct it.  If a person’s blood pressure measures as little as 50/33 they are in danger of permanent damage to the internal organs because oxygen and nutrients cannot get to them.  Extremely low blood pressure or hypotension can cause coma or death. Very young children and athletes generally have measurements at the lower end of the normal blood pressure range.

Higher Readings

If your blood pressure readings are consistently between 120/80 and 140/90 you do not have hypertension, but you could be headed in that direction if you do not change your ways. A reading of 120/80 is now at the top of the normal blood pressure range. A normal blood pressure reading should ideally be less than 120/80 so if yours is higher you should be doing more exercise eat less junk food and cut down on salt, sugar, alcohol, nicotine and saturated fat.

If your blood pressure reading is between 140/90 and 160/100 you have stage 1 hypertension. You should try to amend your lifestyle and if that isn't enough to get you down to a normal blood pressure range then perhaps you should ask your doctor about prescription medication.

If your blood pressure exceeds 160/100 you definitely require medication to correct the problem because you are at very high risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, aneurysm or renal failure. Bear in mind that severe hypertension puts excessive tension on the heart and can cause the blood vessels in major organs to burst open. Severe hypertension can and does kill people every day.

Regular Testing

Regular blood pressure testing is very important for several reasons. First, one test is not enough to determine if your measurements are within the normal blood pressure range. Everybody's blood pressure changes quite radically according to how relaxed they feel and what they happen to be doing. Several tests are needed to determine a person’s average blood pressure.

Furthermore, it is only through regular testing that you can determine whether your blood pressure is lower or higher than it should be. Therefore you should be getting regular tests from your health care provider. Alternatively you could purchase a home monitor so that you can test to see if your measurements are within the normal blood pressure range as and when you wish to.

For more information please visit my Dangerous High Blood Pressure Website.

Normal adult blood pressure has a systolic reading of between 90 and 119 mmHg and a diastolic measure of between 60 and 79. The older you get, the higher your blood pressure reading is likely to be. According to statistics at least one quarter of Americans have high blood pressure or hypertension.

The problem with hypertension is that it is often asymptomatic so many people don't even realize they have it. Hypertension is often called the silent killer because of the lack of symptoms and the fact that severe cases can lead to major health problems such as heart failure, renal damage, partial loss of sight, blindness, heart attack, stroke, mini stroke, aneurysm and death. The good news is that if you have hypertension there is a great deal that you can do in order to help yourself get down to a consistent normal blood pressure reading.

Exercise And Weight Management

Obesity contributes to prehypertension and hypertension, so if you are overweight you need to lose the excess pounds if you wish to get down to a normal blood pressure reading. You can do this by restricting your calorie intake and cutting most of the sugar and saturated fat from your diet. This can lower your risk of hypertension related health conditions significantly, so do yourself a favor and throw your ice cream and candy bars into the trash can.

Exercise can also help anybody who would like to see a normal blood pressure reading. Exercise makes the heart and cardiovascular system stronger as well as contributing to weight loss and lowering the blood pressure. Over time regular exercise can cut the risk of developing ailments associated with hypertension in half.

Quit Your Bad Habits

Nicotine, caffeine and alcohol can all contribute to the problem of hypertension. Therefore if you are serious about acquiring a consistent normal blood pressure reading it is in your best interest to eliminate or at least cut back on vices such as coffee, beer, whiskey, cigarettes, wine, cigars and chewing tobacco. 

Get The Right Essential Nutrients

Just as certain lifestyle choices can create hypertension, some foods, minerals, herbs and vitamins can help you to get a healthy normal blood pressure reading. Increase your water intake and fill up on foods such as bananas, bean sprouts, garlic, olive oil, flaxseed oil, avocados, broccoli, oats and apples. Make sure you are getting enough minerals such as potassium, magnesium and calcium and vitamins C, D, E.  Herbal supplements such as kelp, alphalpha, hawthorn berry and black cohosh are also purported to lower the blood pressure.

Medications

If you have made all the necessary lifestyle amendments and you still cannot get a normal blood pressure reading or if you have severe hypertension it may be time to ask your doctor or health care provider about prescription medication. There are numerous medications that can help with hypertension including diuretics, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors and more. These medications can have side effects or interact with other medications you are taking so talk to your doctor to find out which is best for you.

For more information please visit my Dangerous High Blood Pressure Website.

When doctors refer to blood pressure they are describing the force applied by the stream of blood within the body on the walls of the blood vessels. A cuff and measuring gauge are generally used to determine an individual’s blood pressure. Measurements are taken in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Two separate measurements are always taken. Systolic blood pressure is the force exerted on the walls of the blood vessels while the heart is contracting. Diastolic blood pressure is the force on the blood vessels while the heart is at rest.

Every individual’s blood pressure tends to vary greatly and can actually change from one heart beat to the next. In order to determine a person’s average blood pressure it is necessary to take more than one measurement at various times of day over a period of time.

If a person maintains normal blood pressure he or she is less likely to develop cardiovascular problems or other health complications. Blood pressure that is abnormally high or low can lead to potentially fatal problems. Therefore it is very important to make sure that your health care provider checks your blood pressure regularly.

The Healthy Levels

Healthy blood pressure has a systolic measurement of somewhere between 90 and 119. It has a diastolic measurement of 60-79. People with low average measurements are less prone to the health complications associated with hypertension and hypotension. Children have lower blood pressure than adults. Generally the older you are the higher your blood pressure is likely to be.

Prehypertension

If more than one test indicates that you have a blood pressure reading of between 120/80 and 139/89 you have what is called prehypertension. This means that you are at risk of developing hypertension. If you have prehypertension you should make certain lifestyle amendments in the interest of maintaining your health. For instance you should get down to a healthy weight, exercise more and avoid nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, saturated fats and sodium wherever possible.

Hypertension

There are two stages of hypertension or high blood pressure. Stage one hypertension is a measurement between 140/90 and 159/99. There are various prescription medications that can be taken to correct the problem of stage one hypertension and the same lifestyle amendments that are used to treat prehypertension are necessary. People with hypertension are at increased risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, aneurysm, kidney failure and eye problems.

Stage two hypertension is a measurement of 160/100 or more. People who have elevated hypertension are at particularly high risk of the aforementioned health problems. They require rapid and aggressive medical treatment if they are to avoid having a massive heart attack or stroke.

Hypotension

Hypotension is the term to describe someone with low blood pressure. A low measurement varies from one individual to the next. In other words, a person with a diastolic pressure of 60 may experience no adverse symptoms while the next individual may start to react badly if theirs reaches as low as 70. A severe case of hypotension is dangerous because it means that the oxygen and vital nutrients in the bloodstream are not reaching vital organs. This can cause organ damage or failure. In the most extreme cases it can cause coma or death.

Hypotension has numerous potential causes including pregnancy, certain medications, blood loss, inadequate nutrition, dehydration and septicemia. You can reduce your risk of developing hypotension by eating a healthy diet with sufficient calories, vitamins and minerals and drinking plenty of fresh water.

For more information please visit my Dangerous Blood Pressure Website.

Blood pressure is the term used to describe the force of the blood circulated by the heart on the arteries, veins and other blood vessels. There are two distinct types of blood pressure: systolic and diastolic. Systolic blood pressure is exerted when the heart muscles contract. Diastolic blood pressure is measured between heart beats. The blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) using a machine called a sphygmomanometer.

Up until a few years ago normal blood pressure was considered to be a systolic measurement of around 120 and a diastolic reading of approximately 80. However, after extensive scientific research the American Heart Foundation asserted that normal blood pressure is a measurement of less than 120/80. Now a normal blood pressure range is considered to be anywhere between 90/60 and 120/80, it is not a static number. Indeed various factors can impact an individual’s blood pressure measurement.

Age Is A Factor

Age tends to have an impact on the blood pressure measurement of all individuals. For example, a very young child should have a lower measurement than an adult. Generally the older a person is the higher their blood pressure measurement is likely to be. However, the obesity problem here in the United States means that now several youngsters have a blood pressure measurement that is higher than it should be given their age. Furthermore age is no excuse for allowing your blood pressure to creep up. Normal blood pressure for an older person may be higher, but individuals from this age group are at a much higher risk of the cardiovascular problems associated with hypertension.

Different Times Of Day

There is no set measurement that is considered to be normal blood pressure because it can vary by forty points or more depending on what a person is doing at the time. If a person is feeling stressed or engaging in a physical activity their measurement will be higher, but they will still have a normal blood pressure. If a person is sleeping or very relaxed their blood pressure should be considerably lower and if it isn't then there may be a problem.

When To Seek Treatment

If your blood pressure is consistently between 120/80 and 139/89 you have what is termed prehypertension. This means that you should take certain precautions to avoid developing hypertension. Make sure you eat a healthy diet that does not contain too much sugar, saturated fat or salt. Limit your alcohol and caffeine consumption and don’t use nicotine products. Start exercising regularly and make sure you are getting the right vitamins and minerals to lower your blood pressure.

If your have more than one consecutive test that shows a blood pressure reading of 140/90 or higher then this means that you’ve got hypertension. If you have hypertension you are at greater risk than people with normal blood pressure of serious potentially fatal health complications such as stroke, heart attack, heart failure or renal failure You need to amend your lifestyle and your health care provider may prescribe certain medications to correct the problem.

Although normal blood pressure at the lower end of the scale is desirable, having measurements that are too low is not good. If your systolic measurement is less than 90 and your diastolic measurement is lower than 60 you would have hypotension. Severe hypotension can lead to organ damage or failure and requires immediate medical treatment.

For more information please visit my Dangerous High Blood Pressure Website.

One of the problems with high blood pressure nowadays is that it is so common and so often talked about that many people do not afford it the respect which it deserves. The fact is that high blood pressure, or hypertension (to give it its medical name), is a killer disease and should be treated as such.

Many hundreds of scientists and doctors have spent considerable money and time attempting to describe just what the true definition of hypertension is.

Over the years there have been many human population studies carried out on this topic that have given the researchers and doctors a very wide range of blood pressure values. The results however are generally skewed and vary from country to country and even from one district to the next within a given country. Accordingly, it has been agreed that the definition of hypertension can only be found as a result of continuous observation and experimentation.

Normal blood pressure is recognized in a similar way to normal body weight in that the defining level is that which is seen as providing the greatest projected life expectancy. This is the level at which the heart and other important parts of the body such as the circulatory system can function under optimum conditions without running the risk of heart disease and other associated disorders.

Naturally there are other factors that have to be taken into account when defining high blood pressure and some have to be excluded. For example, If a healthy person was to become excited then their systolic (or pumping) blood pressure will rise by possibly a significant amount because their blood flow increases in response to emotional excitement or any form of energetic activity. However it does not stay high for long and as soon as the level of excitement subsides your blood pressure also falls back to normal.

In addition to your systolic (pumping) pressure you also have a diastolic (resting) pressure which is the more important of the two and is an excellent guide in ascertaining whether a high blood pressure reading is a false positive. The reason why the diastolic pressure is important is because it indicates the state of a person’s arteries and if a person has a high reading this might mean that the arteries are constricted and not permitting a free flow of blood as they should be.

It is very important to understand that high blood pressure is not a disease in itself but is a key criterion used by doctors to diagnose or predict other conditions.

Finally, it is also necessary to know that high blood pressure cannot be cured although it can be very effectively controlled.

TheBloodPressureCenter.com provides information on many different aspects of blood pressure including what causes high blood pressure and finding the best blood pressure monitors