1. What is “normal” blood pressure?
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Normal adult blood pressure: ~120/80 mmHg
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Systolic (top number): pressure when the heart beats
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Diastolic (bottom number): pressure when the heart rests between beats
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2. How blood pressure changes with age
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Children & teens: Lower blood pressure, e.g., 90–110/55–70 mmHg.
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Young adults (20–40 years): ~110–120/70–80 mmHg is typical.
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Middle-aged adults (40–60 years): Systolic may gradually rise to 120–130 mmHg; diastolic often stays similar or may slightly decrease after 50.
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Older adults (60+ years): Systolic often rises due to arterial stiffness; diastolic may decrease slightly. It’s common to see 130–140/70–80 mmHg, but values above 140/90 are considered high.
Why it rises with age:
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Blood vessels lose elasticity
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Arteries become stiffer
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Changes in kidney function and hormone regulation
3. Important points
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Diastolic pressure may plateau or decrease in older adults, even if systolic rises.
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“Normal” doesn’t mean “ignoring it”: blood pressure that gradually rises with age can still increase cardiovascular risk.
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Guidelines: Most health organizations now recommend keeping blood pressure <130/80 mmHg for adults, regardless of age, if safely achievable.
Summary:
Yes, blood pressure naturally tends to rise slightly with age, particularly systolic pressure, but the goal is to maintain as close to “normal” as possible through lifestyle and, if needed, medication.
If you want, I can make a quick chart showing average normal blood pressure by age—it’s surprisingly helpful to visualize. Do you want me to do that?
