Everyone's blood pressure is different due to various factors. One of them is age. The older a person gets, the higher the normal range for blood pressure. Through this article, you will find out the normal blood pressure limits based on age.
Blood pressure shows how hard your heart is pumping blood around your body. This measure is one of the vital signs of the body that is often used as a reference to see the general health of the body and must be monitored regularly.
Like This Normal Blood Pressure Based on Age
Blood pressure is written with 2 numbers separated by a slash, for example 120/80 mmHg.
The number 120 represents systolic blood pressure, which is the pressure when the heart contracts to pump blood throughout the body. While the number 80 represents diastolic blood pressure, which is the pressure when the heart muscle relaxes before pumping blood again.
Both of these pressures have their respective normal ranges and each age has a different range.
The following are normal blood pressure limits divided by age group:
Normal blood pressure in children
Although not much different, normal blood pressure at the age of children can be divided into 2 groups, namely:
- Preschool children (3–5 years): the normal range for systolic pressure is 95-110 mmHg and diastolic pressure is between 56-70 mmHg.
- School-age children (6–13 years): the normal range for systolic pressure is 97-112 mmHg and diastolic pressure is 57-71 mmHg.
Normal blood pressure in adolescents
In adolescents aged 13-18 years, the normal range for systolic pressure is 112-128 mmHg and diastolic pressure is 66-80 mmHg. Variations in blood pressure within the normal limits of a teenager can be caused by various factors, such as height, gender, and the time of blood pressure measurement.
Normal blood pressure in adults
In general, an adult is said to have normal blood pressure if it is above 90/60 mmHg to 120/80 mmHg. Normal blood pressure can go up or down depending on the physical activity you are undergoing and the emotional state you are experiencing.
In pregnant women, hormonal changes cause the blood pressure range to be lower. Even in pregnant women, blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg is included in the category of having to be careful about the risk of preeclampsia.
Normal blood pressure in the elderly
Normal blood pressure in the elderly (elderly) tends to be higher, that is, < 150 mmHg for systolic pressure and < 90 mmHg for diastolic pressure. This is because the blood vessels in the elderly tend to be stiffer, so the heart requires higher pressure to pump blood throughout the body.
If the blood pressure is too low, the elderly may experience dizziness and orthostatic hypotension, increasing the risk of falls and injury.
How to Maintain Normal Blood Pressure
As long as it's within normal limits, the lower your blood pressure, the better your heart health will be. However, low blood pressure also needs to be watched out for if it causes complaints such as dizziness, nausea, and fainting.
The following are some ways you can do to control blood pressure remains normal:
- Set a healthy diet and balanced nutrition every day, and reduce salt and caffeine intake.
- Regular exercise to maintain normal blood pressure, at least for 20-30 minutes every day. `
- Maintain an ideal body weight and manage stress well, for example by doing yoga.
- Avoid smoking and consuming alcoholic beverages in excess because it can be harmful to the health of the heart and blood vessels.
Blood pressure must be monitored regularly to prevent high blood pressure (hypertension) or even low blood pressure (hypotension). This is because both hypotension and hypertension can be asymptomatic, so it is feared that this condition will go undetected and cause various complications.
If possible, you can regularly monitor blood pressure independently at home. If your blood pressure is above or below the normal blood pressure range for your age, you should immediately consult a doctor.