What is normal diastolic blood pressure reading

  • Ranges: Normal, High, Low
    • What are the different blood pressure categories?
  • Blood Pressure Chart By Age & Gender
    • What are the normal blood pressure readings by age and gender?
  • What Is It?
    • What is blood pressure?
  • Treating High Blood Pressure
    • How to treat high blood pressure?
  • Treating Low Blood Pressure
    • How to treat low blood pressure?
  • Related Resources
    • Related Resources - Blood Pressure Readings: Ranges, Normal, High, Low
  • Comments
    • Patient Comments: 5 Blood Pressure Categories

Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is produced primarily by the contraction of the heart muscle. Its measurement is recorded by two numbers.

  • The first (systolic pressure) is measured after the heart contracts and is highest. This tells you the force of your blood against the artery walls when your heart beats.
  • The second (diastolic pressure) is measured before the heart contracts and the lowest. This tells you what your blood pressure is when your heart is at rest between heartbeats.

Which number is more important?

A high systolic blood pressure reading is a major marker for heart disease in people over 50. As you age, systolic blood pressure increases steadily from the long-term buildup of plaque and stiffness of your arteries. Additionally, elevated systolic blood pressure increases your chances of cardiac and vascular disease.

Systolic or diastolic blood pressure readings may both be used by doctors to diagnose you with high blood pressure. Recent studies show the risk of death for people between the ages of 40 and 89 due to ischemic heart disease and stroke doubles with every 20 mm Hg systolic or 10 mm Hg diastolic reading.

A blood pressure cuff is used to measure the pressure. Elevation of blood pressure is called "hypertension".

Depending on your blood pressure reading, you will fall into one of five blood pressure categories, which include:

  1. Normal
  2. Elevated
  3. Hypertension Stage 1
  4. Hypertension Stage 2
  5. Hypertensive Crisis

While many people focus on the dangers of high blood pressure (hypertension), low blood pressure (hypotension) can also pose a threat. In cases of hypotension, a diastolic blood pressure reading of 60 mm Hg or below is considered low blood pressure. This is true even if your systolic blood pressure reading is 120 mm Hg, which is considered normal.

Signs and Symptoms of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure may not have any symptoms and so hypertension has been labeled "the silent killer." Longstanding high blood pressure can lead to multiple complications including heart attack, kidney disease, or stroke.

Some people experience symptoms with their high blood pressure. These symptoms include:

  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Blurred vision
  • The Feeling of pulsations in the neck or head
  • Nausea

What are the different blood pressure ranges?

  • 1

Your blood pressure measurement will determine which blood pressure category you belong to. The higher your blood pressure reading, the higher your risk factor for certain conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. If left untreated, high blood pressure can damage your blood vessels, kidneys, and brain.

Blood pressure can be categorized into five different types, namely:

Table. Different blood pressure categories
CategorySystolic (mm Hg)Diastolic (mm Hg)Management
Normal120 or less 80 or less N/A
Elevated120-129 80 or less People with elevated blood pressure are at risk of high blood pressure unless steps are taken to control it.
Hypertension stage I130-139 80-89 Doctors may prescribe blood pressure medications and some lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Hypertension stage II140-159 90-99 Doctors may prescribe a combination of both medications and lifestyle changes.
Hypertensive crisis180 or higher 120 or higher This is the most critical condition and requires emergency medical attention.

Blood pressure is measured in mm Hg (millimeters of mercury)

Contact your healthcare provider or Call 911 immediately if the following symptoms are experienced:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Back pain
  • Numbness/weakness
  • Change in vision
  • Difficulty speaking

What is normal diastolic blood pressure reading

QUESTION

Salt and sodium are the same. See Answer

What are the normal blood pressure readings by age and gender?

The chart shows normal blood pressure according to age both male and female.  Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) are included in the chart.

Normal Blood Pressure By Age Both Male and Female
AgeSBP (mm Hg)DBP (mm Hg)
Male21-25 120.5 78.5
26-30 119.5 76.5
31-35 114.5 75.5
36-40 120.5 75.5
41-45 115.5 78.5
46-50 119.5 80.5
51-55 125.5 80.5
56-60 129.5 79.5
61-65 143.5 76.5
Female21-25 115.5 70.5
26-30 113.5 71.5
31-35 110.5 72.5
36-40 112.5 74.5
41-45 116.5 73.5
46-50 124 78.5
51-55 122.55 74.5
56-60 132.5 78.5
61-65 130.5 77.5

Health News

What is blood pressure?

What is normal diastolic blood pressure reading

Blood pressure can be categorized into five different types include normal, elevated, hypertension stage I, hypertension stage II, and hypertensive crisis.

Blood pressure is the force applied by the blood over the inner walls of the arteries. Although the average blood pressure for a person remains constant, it shows minor fluctuations throughout the day—declining while relaxing and momentarily increasing while being excited or under stress.

An increase in resting blood pressure can scar, stiffen, or harden the arteries.

  • Blood pressure is written as systolic and diastolic values.
  • Hence, BP 120/80 mm Hg means 120 is the systolic number, and 80 is the diastolic number.

High blood pressure is more likely to cause:

  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Heart failure
  • Vision loss
  • Kidney failure
  • Dementia
  • Erectile dysfunction

What is normal diastolic blood pressure reading

SLIDESHOW

How to Lower Blood Pressure: Exercise and Tips See Slideshow

How to treat high blood pressure?

Ultimately, high blood pressure (hypertension) can damage the blood vessels in your kidneys and prevent them from working properly. Additionally, untreated hypertension can result in numerous health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease.

Lifestyle changes and regular exercise can help to treat high blood pressure.

Some of the suggested lifestyle changes by the physicians are as follows:

  • Quit smoking
  • Lose weight
  • Avoid alcohol or at least limit the intake
  • Eat a low-sodium and low-fat diet such as the DASH diet
  • Avoid too much stress
  • Eat foods rich in potassium, magnesium, and calcium such as bananas and milk
  • Regular monitoring of blood pressure after reaching the age of 35 years
  • Practice meditation and other stress-relieving exercises
  • Cut back on caffeine

The physicians may prescribe the following medications:

  • Diuretics
  • ACE inhibitors
  • Alpha-blockers
  • Beta-blockers
  • Calcium channel blockers
  • Vasodilators

How to treat low blood pressure?

Low blood pressure (Hypotension) can be prevented or treated using the following methods:

  • Consume lots of fluids
  • Limit alcoholic drinks
  • Stay hydrated, especially during hot weather or during viral flu
  • Drink more nonalcoholic drinks
  • Exercise regularly to encourage blood flow
  • Avoid sitting or standing quickly
  • While rising, take care to sit upright for a few seconds and then get off the bed
  • Stay away from heavy lifting
  • Avoid standing still for a prolonged time
  • Avoid straining while passing stools
  • Avoid prolonged exposure to hot water such as saunas, hot water springs, and spas
  • Compression stocking covering the thigh and calf restricts the blood flow to the lower part of the body
  • Try eating smaller, more frequent meals to avoid post-meal dizziness
  • Any consumption of over-the-counter medications should be reported to the physician.

Medications such as fludrocortisone or midodrine may also help to treat low blood pressure.

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Medically Reviewed on 11/11/2022

References

https://www.webmd.com/heart/qa/what-medications-are-used-to-treat-low-blood-pressure

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4998762/

https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings

What is normal diastolic blood pressure by age?

A normal diastolic blood pressure range during quiet rest is 80 mmHg or a little below. ... Frequently Asked Questions..

Which is more important systolic or diastolic blood pressure?

Q. When I am monitoring my blood pressure, which number is most important — top, bottom, or both? A. While both numbers in a blood pressure reading are essential for diagnosing and treating high blood pressure, doctors primarily focus on the top number, also known as systolic pressure.

What is a worrying diastolic blood pressure?

Once your systolic reading reaches 130 or higher or your diastolic reading is 80 or higher, you're considered to have high blood pressure, or hypertension. Most people have what's known as essential or primary hypertension, which means it's not caused by a medical condition, medication, or substance.

What does the diastolic number tell you?

Diastolic blood pressure, the bottom number, measures the force the heart exerts on the walls of the arteries in between beats.