Hello Friends, The is a measurement of the force that blood exerts on the walls of your arteries as the heart pumps it around the body. Blood pressure is expressed in two numbers: systolic pressure (upper number) and diastolic pressure (lower number). The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that adults have their blood pressure checked at least once every two years, starting at age 20.
The normal blood pressure ranges by age according to the AHA:
For adults 18 years of age and older:
- The Normal blood pressure: Less than 120/80 mm Hg
- Elevated blood pressure: Systolic between 120-129 and diastolic less than 80
- This Stage 1 high blood pressure: Systolic between 130-139 or diastolic between 80-89
- Stage 2 high blood pressure: Systolic at least 140 or diastolic at least 90
- Hypertensive crisis: Systolic above 180 and/or diastolic above 120
- It is important to remember that blood pressure can change throughout the day and can be affected by factors such as stress, physical activity and medications. It is best to measure your blood pressure at different times of the day and on different days to get accurate readings. In addition, if you have high blood pressure or are at risk for high blood pressure, you should talk to your healthcare provider about appropriate blood pressure goals for you.
blood pressure varies with age:
For children and teenagers:
- This Normal blood pressure ranges vary by age, gender, and height. The AHA provides charts to determine normal ranges based on these factors.
- The Very In children and adolescents, elevated blood pressure is defined as a systolic or diastolic pressure between the 90th and 95th percentiles for their age, sex, and height. Stage 1 high blood pressure is defined as a pressure above the 95th percentile but below 130/80 mm Hg, and stage 2 high blood pressure is defined as a pressure of 130/80 mm Hg or higher.
For older adults:
- The Most Blood pressure tends to increase with age due to factors such as hardening of the arteries and other age-related changes.
- The AHA recommends that blood pressure goals for older adults be set individually, taking into account factors such as general health and the presence of other medical conditions./
- It is important to remember that high blood pressure, if left untreated, can lead to serious health problems such as heart attack, stroke and kidney disease. If you have high blood pressure or are at risk for high blood pressure, it is important that you and your healthcare provider develop a plan to manage your blood pressure and reduce your risk of complications. This can include lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, a healthy diet and smoking cessation, as well as medication if necessary.
