What is considered normal blood pressure?

• A. 120/80 mm Hg or lower
• B. 120/90 mm Hg
• C. 100/60 mm Hg
• D. 140/90 mm Hg

Answer: (A)

Normal blood pressure is when the two numbers stay below the levels that increase cardiovascular risk. The systolic value (pressure when the heart contracts) and the diastolic value (pressure when the heart rests) are both considered. A reading of 120/80 mm Hg or lower matches this standard threshold, and is what clinicians typically classify as normal. Readings with higher diastolic pressure, such as 120/90, or with high systolic pressure, such as 140/90, indicate elevated or hypertensive ranges and aren’t normal. A value like 100/60 can be normal for many people, but the key idea is recognizing the threshold where risk starts to rise, which is captured by the 120/80 boundary.