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Staying Healthy
What is the ideal blood pressure number?
- By Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing
On call
Q. I take medication for hypertension and monitor my own blood pressure. But it seems what is considered normal keeps changing. What numbers do you advise?
A. The most recent guidelines use a reading of less than 120/80 mm Hg as normal (see below). But that is not some magical number to guide what an individual person should strive for. Instead, it’s best to consider the right range of blood pressure that best fits your personal circumstances, with a general goal of striving for lowest acceptable top and bottom numbers.
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About the Author
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
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Controlling Your Blood Pressure
An alarming one in three American adults has high blood pressure. Known medically as hypertension, many people don't even know they have it, because high blood pressure has no symptoms or warning signs. But when elevated blood pressure is accompanied by abnormal cholesterol and blood sugar levels, the damage to your arteries, kidneys, and heart accelerates exponentially. Fortunately, high blood pressure is easy to detect and treat. In the Special Health Report, Controlling Your Blood Pressure, find out how to keep blood pressure in a healthy range simply by making lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, increasing activity, and eating more healthfully.
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