Normal blood pressure and how to calculate it

If you do a health check, your doctor will usually measure your blood pressure. In some people with certain health problems, blood pressure must be controlled, which is within normal limits. However, do you know what blood pressure (tension) is normal? Come on, find out the answer below.

What is normal blood pressure (tension)?

Blood pressure is a measure of the force with which the heart pumps blood around the body. This means that blood pressure is closely related to the health condition of your heart, so that when you check your health, your blood pressure will also be measured.

According to the classification of American Heart Association, Normal blood pressure in a person is below 120/80 mm Hg.

The number 120 shows the level of pressure when the heart is pumping blood. The heart pumps blood to flow to all parts of the body. The number 120, or the number for blood pressure, is known as the systolic number.

Meanwhile, the number 80, or the lower number of blood pressure, is known as the diastolic number. The meaning of this number is that the heart is resting briefly to pump blood.

Blood pressure is not always stable or stays at the same number. This number can go up or down, depending on what you are doing, feeling or what health condition is at that time.

Apart from being normal, blood pressure is also categorized into several groups, namely:

Low blood pressure. Conditions that are classified as low blood pressure or hypotension are when they are below the normal level, which is around 90/60 mm Hg or lower.
High blood pressure. Blood pressure ranges from 120-129 systolic and diastolic less than 80 mm Hg. People with this blood pressure, must control their lifestyle so as not to become hypertensive (a condition of high blood pressure).
Hypertension stage 1. In this condition, blood pressure ranges from 130-139 systolic or diastolic 80-89 mm Hg. Your doctor will usually recommend lifestyle changes and may prescribe medications to lower blood pressure, to lower your risk of heart disease.
Stage 2 hypertension.Blood pressure ranges from 140/90 mm Hg or higher. In this condition, the doctor will prescribe a combination of drugs to lower high blood pressure and healthier lifestyle changes.
Hypertensive crisis. When the blood pressure exceeds 180/120 mm Hg, it is categorized as a hypertensive crisis or hypertensive emergency. Usually, to be sure, two checks are carried out with a interval of 5 minutes. Usually, this condition is also accompanied by symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, and weakness so it requires immediate doctor care.

Normal blood pressure (tension) based on age

The normal number of tension in each person is different. One factor is age. The following are normal blood pressure limits based on a person's age.

Normal blood pressure in adults

For all adults, regardless of age, blood pressure based on adult age which is considered normal is 120/80 mm Hg. If your blood pressure is not above this limit, you may have certain activities, lifestyle, or health problems you have.

Normal blood pressure in infants and children

Children tend to have lower blood pressure than adults. So, this shows that the younger a person is, the lower their blood pressure is. In children, normal blood pressure ranges from:

In newborns, the systolic number is around 60-90 and the diastolic number is 20-60 mm Hg.
In infants, the systolic number is around 87-105 and the diastolic number is 53-66 mm Hg.
In infants 1 to 3 years of age, the systolic number is around 95-105 and the diastolic number is 53-66 mm Hg.
In children 3 to 7 years of age, the systolic number is around 95-110 and the doastolic number is 56-70 mm Hg.
In school-aged children, the systolic number is 97-112 and the diastolic number is 57-71 mm Hg.
In adolescents, the systolic number is 112-128 and the diastolic number is 66-80 mm Hg.

Normal blood pressure in the elderly

In 2017, recent guidelines from the American Heart Association and other health organizations lowered the rate for a diagnosis of high blood pressure to 130/80 mm Hg for all ages.

As you get older, your blood pressure tends to rise. That is why, in the elderly, their blood pressure may exceed the limit of normal adult blood pressure. With a note, his blood pressure does not exceed the limit of 130/80 mm Hg and it is necessary to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Normal blood pressure in pregnant women

Guidelines for normal blood pressure for pregnant women are the same as for other people in general, which is below 120/80 mm Hg. If the number exceeds this limit when the pregnancy has not entered 20 weeks, it is likely that the pregnant woman has hypertension.

How to measure blood pressure

In the elderly and people who have health problems that affect normal blood pressure, blood pressure checks must be done regularly. The goal is to prevent hypertension which generally does not cause symptoms and to keep blood pressure within normal limits so that the body is always healthy.

Measuring blood pressure can be done at clinics, health centers, hospitals, even at home. Well, the steps for a home blood pressure test that you need to pay attention to include:

Before checking blood pressure, avoid consuming caffeinated drinks and exercise in the previous 30 minutes. Try to relax your body for 5 minutes and calm your mind.
Sit in a chair with your back straight with your feet straight down, not to be crossed. Place your arms on a flat surface at the level of your heart. Use a measuring cuff and make sure it snaps over the crook of the elbow.
Check your blood pressure repeatedly, for example 2 times with a time interval of 1-5 minutes. You can do a blood pressure test on both sides of the arm. The reason is, the blood pressure of the right arm and the left arm can be different and this is a sign of a heart attack.
You can measure blood pressure regularly and independently at the same time, such as morning and evening. Usually, routine blood pressure checks are carried out 2 weeks after undergoing a change of treatment or for a week before a health check to a doctor, especially those of you who have certain health conditions.

Things that affect normal blood pressure

Increased or decreased blood pressure is sometimes not known for certain causes. However, most people experience changes in blood pressure from normal numbers due to their diet, lifestyle, and medical conditions.

Changes in blood pressure due to lifestyle and diet

Increased blood pressure can occur because you drink too much alcohol, have a smoking habit, or eat too much food high in salt but low in potassium.

In addition, rarely exercising and being overweight can also increase normal blood pressure. Meanwhile, the drop in blood pressure is usually due to not eating for a long time or lying down for too long (not actively moving).

Please note that normally, blood pressure will decrease by itself at night and jump up in the morning.

Changes in blood pressure due to certain health conditions or problems

In rare cases, certain conditions or diseases can affect normal blood sugar levels, including:

Experiencing stress that may occupy your mind, especially in the long term.
Already aged over 64-65 years, both men and women.
Having heart disease, such as bradycardia (very low heart rate), heart attack, heart valve disease, or heart failure can cause low blood pressure.
The use of drugs such as birth control pills, cold medicines, and pain relievers without a doctor's prescription can increase blood pressure. Meanwhile, blood pressure can decrease when you use antidepressants, drugs for erectile dysfunction, and Parkinson's disease drugs.
Having diabetes, sleep apnea (sleep disorders), kidney and thyroid gland problems, blood vessel disorders can also cause high blood pressure. People who have anemia, endocrine problems, septicemia (poisoning of bacteria in the blood), allergic reactions to antibiotics such as penicillin, and deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid tend to experience low blood pressure.
Pregnant women who are entering gestational age at week 24 are also prone to experiencing low blood pressure.