A normal blood pressure range, according to WebMD, occurs when the systolic number is 120 or below and the diastolic number is 80 or below. High and low blood pressure problems affect both men and women.
High blood pressure occurs when the top number, the systolic number, is above 120 and the bottom number, the diastolic number, is above 90. Low blood pressure is called hypotension and occurs when blood pressure drops below 90 and 60. Risks associated with low blood pressure rise as a person ages. Adequate healthy food and exercise are key in keeping blood pressure under control, explains WebMD.
Prehypertension is classified as consistent blood pressure readings of 120 to 139 systolic or 80 to 89 diastolic. A person is actually diagnosed with stage 1 high blood pressure when a pattern of systolic readings of 140 to 159 or diastolic readings of 90 to 99 are recorded. Stage 2 high blood pressure is characterized by sustained readings of 160 or greater systolic or 100 or greater diastolic, according to the American Heart Association.
