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What is a good blood pressure for my age?

Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS

Below 120/80 is considered optimal for adults of every age. Pressure tends to creep up as arteries stiffen with the years, but higher numbers are worth treating, not just accepting as aging.

Many doctors aim for below 130/80 in older adults, adjusted for frailty, other conditions and how treatment feels. The right target is personal.

What matters most is your average across a week of proper home readings, discussed with someone who knows your history.

If you are buying a monitor

Get an upper-arm cuff, not a wrist one, from a validated brand like Omron. Expect $30 to $60. Check the cuff size fits your arm; a too-small cuff reads high.

See validated upper-arm monitors

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General answers only go so far. A doctor can look at your numbers and history and give you a written answer about you.

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