What's normal blood pressure?

Blood pressure values are expressed in mmHg. That stands for millimeters of mercury. The highest number denotes the systolic pressure and the lower number the diastolic pressure.

The standard guidelines apply to adult men and women without health complications. A regular diastolic pressure lies between 60 and 90mmHg and a regular systolic pressure between 120 and 140mmHg. From you 40th birthday onwards, you have a higher risk of a high blood pressure. It's smart to track your blood pressure with a blood pressure monitor. When you have health complications, a regular blood pressure might be different for you. Note: when in doubt, always contact your doctor.

For senior citizens above 70 years old, other guidelines apply than to adults. A high blood pressure can be better than a low blood pressure. Especially senior citizens with health complications have to determine what a regular blood pressure is for them with their doctor. The average healthy senior citizen has a regular blood pressure between 90/140mmHg.

A high blood pressure occurs in about 5 to 18% of pregnancies. The cause of this high blood pressure is often unclear. You do have a higher risk of high blood pressure if you have diabetes or an auto-immune disease. Many women don't get any symptoms with a high blood pressure during pregnancy. When the diastolic pressure lies far above 90mmHg, you might notice symptoms like headaches and flashes. A high blood pressure during pregnancy can cause health issues. That's why it's important to also track your blood pressure if you have no symptoms. Note: when in doubt, always contact your doctor.

During the pregnancy, the blood pressure can fluctuate. During the first couple of months of the pregnancy, it's normal to have a low blood pressure. Unlike a high blood pressure, a low blood pressure doesn't cause health issues. You might notice light symptoms like dizziness and fatigue, but these aren't dangerous. Note: when in doubt, always contact your doctor.

For children up to 12 years, the normal blood pressure is lower than that of adults. For girls, the blood pressure is slightly lower than that of boys. If you have a high blood pressure as a child, it might be due to a different issue like heart or kidney diseases or obesity. Because children don't grow at the same speed, it's not a bad thing to have a higher blood pressure than others of the same age. Note: when in doubt, always contact your doctor.