It’s not quite true that “everyone” has made a mistake here—blood pressure varies a lot, and what’s “normal” depends on age, body size, and overall health. But there are general reference ranges doctors use.
Here’s a simple, practical breakdown:
🧠 What blood pressure means
- Systolic (top number): pressure when the heart beats
- Diastolic (bottom number): pressure when the heart rests
- Written like: 120/80 mmHg
👶 Children (varies by age, height, sex)
Instead of one number, doctors use percentiles, but rough averages:
- Newborns: ~60–90 / 20–60
- Infants (1–12 months): ~80–100 / 50–65
- Toddlers (1–5 yrs): ~90–105 / 55–70
- Children (6–12 yrs): ~95–110 / 60–75
🧑 Teenagers (13–17 years)
- Around 100–120 / 65–80
- Similar to adults by late teens
🧑 Adults (18+ years)
According to guidelines from groups like the American Heart Association:
- Normal: less than 120 / 80
- Elevated: 120–129 / less than 80
- High blood pressure (hypertension):
- Stage 1: 130–139 / 80–89
- Stage 2: 140+ / 90+
👴 Older adults (60+ years)
- Often acceptable around 120–130 / 70–80
- Doctors may allow slightly higher (e.g., <140/90) depending on health
⚠️ Important notes
- One reading doesn’t diagnose anything—patterns over time matter
- Stress, caffeine, illness, or even talking can affect readings
- Very low BP (like <90/60) can also be a concern if symptoms occur
If you want, tell me your age and recent readings—I can help you interpret whether they’re in a healthy range or not.
