When you think about your health, it seems natural that there’s a range of change in blood pressure by age. And, in fact, what’s considered normal at an older age might be unhealthy for someone younger.
As you age, your blood pressure will naturally increase. As a teenager, the highest normal blood pressure is 120/80. That’s often considered “textbook” blood pressure and what we all strive to have. However, as you get older it’s normal for your blood pressure to be a little higher.
By the time you hit age 30, normal blood pressure can be higher. The maximum blood pressure you can have and still be considered normal is 134/85. And when you reach 40, the highest normal blood pressure is 137/87.
When you reach 50, your blood pressure can be as high as 142/89 and still not be considered high blood pressure. And above age 60, it can be even higher without a diagnosis of hypertension with a maximum of 147/91.
These ranges mean that it’s natural and normal for blood pressure by age to increase a small amount. As you can see, though, it’s not a huge increase each year. As you get older you need to pay more attention to your blood pressure and do your best to keep it in the normal range for your age.
For women, it’s particularly important to monitor blood pressure around the time of menopause. This is a time when your hormones change and your risk for heart disease increases significantly. Estrogen tends to protect women’s heart from risks of disease, but when your levels of estrogen decline your risk goes up.
Your doctor will take your blood pressure as you attend appointments, but you should also monitor it on your own. You can find blood pressure monitors in many pharmacies. However, you may want to have a monitor at home.
This is a small investment that can really help you to take control of your own health information. You’ll be able to see if your blood pressure is in the normal range or if there are patterns of high blood pressure on a regular basis.
Your blood pressure can be affected by other factors in addition to age. For example, smokers and people who take in a lot of caffeine tend to be at risk for high blood pressure. If you’re overweight, you may also have a higher risk for blood pressure.
Diabetes and hypertension also go hand in hand. Knowing the appropriate blood pressure by age can help you to understand if your own blood pressure is normal or if you need to discuss your blood pressure with your doctor.