Blood Pressure Table by Age

Last reviewed:

05 Dec 2024,

Author:

Piotr Kudela

Medically reviewed by:

Dr Jay Shah

What is a Normal Blood Pressure for My Age?

When measuring blood pressure you might have an idea of what’s normal, elevated, high, or an emergency, but did you know that normal blood pressure varies by age and gender? A normal, healthy blood pressure reading for your grandmother might be high for you. You should make sure you have the right target in mind before you start, or you might end up with a reading that causes you unnecessary anxiety.

It’s important to maintain a steady blood pressure, as elevated levels can signify cardiovascular disease, one of the most common conditions and causes of death in Canada. Untreated high blood pressure, also called hypertension, can damage the blood vessels, heart, kidneys, and brain. It’s no wonder that most medical exams start with measuring blood pressure, even if that’s not the primary reason you’re having a checkup.

A person’s sex changes what’s considered normal in terms of blood pressure at different stages of pubescence. How high can blood pressure be at the age of 40, 50, 60 or 70 for men and women?

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Normal Blood Pressure by Age

Most commonly, medical professionals will tell you that normal blood pressure is below 120/80. This isn’t wrong, but it’s a one-size fits all target that only applies to the average adult. The value is usually lower in children and teenagers, and slightly higher in people older than 50.

What Is Normal Blood Pressure Level by Age?

What’s considered normal blood pressure changes as you age, with it broadly increasing as you move from childhood to adulthood, as the chart shows.

Estimated blood pressures for healthy individuals

Age	Boys: Blood pressure (mm/Hg)	Girls: Blood pressure (mm/Hg)
1	98/52	98/54
2	11/55	101/58
3	101/58	102/60
4	102/60	103/62
5	103/63	104/64
6	105/66	105/67
7	106/68	106/68
8	107/69	107/69
9	107/70	108/71
10	108/72	109/72
11	110/74	111/74
12	113/75	114/75
13 to 17	120/80	120/80

Source: Baylor College of Medicine, https://www.bcm.edu/bodycomplab/BPappZjs

Blood Pressure Chart by Sex

Children

Age	Boys: Blood pressure (mm/Hg)	Girls: Blood pressure (mm/Hg)
1	98/52	98/54
2	11/55	101/58
3	101/58	102/60
4	102/60	103/62
5	103/63	104/64
6	105/66	105/67
7	106/68	106/68
8	107/69	107/69
9	107/70	108/71
10	108/72	109/72
11	110/74	111/74
12	113/75	114/75
13 to 17	120/80	120/80

Source: Baylor College of Medicine, https://www.bcm.edu/bodycomplab-BPappZjs

Adults

Age	Women	Men
18-39 years	110/68 mm Hg	119/70 mm Hg
40-59 years	122/74 mm Hg	124/77 mm Hg
60+ years	139/68 mm Hg	133/69 mm Hg

Source: Baptist Health, https://www.baptisthealth.com/heart-care-healthy-blood-pressure-by-age-and-gender-chart

For most of their adult lives it’s normal for men to have higher blood pressure than women, with this only changing after the woman goes through menopause.

Given that women have a higher blood pressure in their later years, and they live longer than men, there are more females living with high blood pressure than males.

While it’s still a debated subject, it’s thought women may be more at risk of heart attack and stroke at a lower blood pressure than men, even at healthy levels.

While it’s clear age and sex have an impact, not every metric is the same when it comes to blood pressure recommendations. Therefore, for a target tailored to you, consult a health professional.

Keeping blood pressure in check

Regardless of your gender and age the same principles apply when it comes to keeping blood pressure at healthy levels. Exercise and a balanced diet can usually normalize high blood pressure. If that is not enough, your doctor may prescribe antihypertensive medication to avoid or alleviate cardiovascular problems.

Blood pressure should be checked regularly. Aktiia uses a technique called pulse wave analysis to process optical signals on your wrist and accurately measure blood pressure in an unobtrusive way.

Older people more prone to high blood pressure

It’s harder for older people to keep their blood pressure at a healthy level, as a study discovered that just over half of (51%) of adults aged 60 to 79 had stage 2 hypertension compared to 22% of adults aged 40 to 59.

Another study found that people who have normal blood pressure at age 55 have a 90% risk of developing high blood pressure at some point in their life.

Why is keeping blood pressure steady harder as you get older? One reason is that blood vessels stiffen with age, while some arteries can become partially blocked, which forces the heart to work harder.

A 2017 review concluded that older people should have a higher target than the rest when it comes to systolic blood pressure, at 150 mm HG for over 60s. However for those who’ve had a stroke it’s recommended to bring levels below 140 mm Hg.

Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure

When measuring blood pressure, you use two numbers: systolic blood pressure is represented by the top number, and diastolic blood pressure by the bottom number.

Systolic blood pressure: The systolic value indicates the blood pressure level when the blood is pumped away from the heart into the arteries. This value shows the condition of the heart muscle and the vascular system.

Diastolic blood pressure: The diastolic value is the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats, or the relaxation phase of the heart.

Both values are measured with the unit mm/Hg, meaning millimeters (mm) of mercury (Hg).

Normal Blood Pressure Increases

There are times when elevated blood pressure shouldn’t be a concern.

Physical activity and stress

During physical exertion or excitement it’s normal for blood pressure to rise temporarily, without it being harmful to health. As long as the cardiovascular system is healthy, most people can withstand short periods of elevated blood pressure, after which readings return to normal. Both men and women experience these temporary blood pressure spikes.

It only becomes a concern when blood pressure is consistently elevated, even at rest. Chronic elevated blood pressure puts a strain on the heart and blood vessels, ultimately leading to a heart attack or stroke. Because blood pressure is the force with which blood pushes against the walls of the arteries, excessive pressure can damage the arteries over time.

White Coat Hypertension

Men and women sometimes receive elevated but incorrect blood pressure readings in the doctor’s office or clinic because being in a medical environment is stressful to them. This is called “white coat hypertension” and can be triggered by stress or increased activity, while it happens to approximately 20% of people.

Being in a doctor’s office is always seen as slightly more stressful than at home, as the Government of Canada has a higher blood pressure target when measuring outside compared to at home, at 140/90 mmHg versus 135/85 mmHg.

As tests can turn out to be an anomaly, it’s worth also taking your blood pressure reading at home, to ensure you aren’t encountering white coat hypertension. Upping the frequency can also be a better indicator, as the American Heart Association recommends at least three measurements on two or three different days to truly diagnose high blood pressure.

The best way to be aware of your blood pressure status is to monitor it continuously with a wearable continuous blood pressure monitor. That way you can measure your total time in target range, which helps you understand where your blood pressure is the majority of the time.

Final Thoughts

It’s important to take age into account when evaluating blood pressure readings. What’s normal at an older age may be elevated for a younger person, and your follow-up protocol may differ if you’re in an elevated range.

High blood pressure can initially stay hidden because it’s unlikely to cause serious symptoms in the early stages, so it’s responsible to undertake regular checkups to ensure you’re not at risk.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only. If you have symptoms of low or high blood pressure, speak to your doctor. They can advise on the best way to effectively manage your blood pressure.