It isn't really based on height and weight. That is because blood pressure that is too high for the circulation system is bad for you at any age.
The systolic number (the first number) is the high pressure right after the heart muscle pumps. The diastolic (the second number) is the pressure within your circulatory system between beats. It is the lowest number.
In a healthy adult the pressure should not consistently be above 140 over 90. So one high reading is nothing to be alarmed about. But consistent high readings means medical help is called for.
For healthy adults it is about 120 over 80.
Posts: 6256 | Location: British Columbia, Canada | Registered: 06-11-02
Too low doesn't seem to be a problem unless you get fainting spells. Some people seem quite healthy with incredibly low blood pressure. I have low blood pressure. When I was much younger I used to faint sometimes, but now that I'm older I'm glad, because it's up in the normal range now, and I might never have to take blood pressure medicine.
Posts: 6256 | Location: British Columbia, Canada | Registered: 06-11-02
It has recently come out that anything over 120/80, I think, is cause for monitoring. In other words, the old 140/90 was too optimistic and careless a set of figures.
