Do you know what a normal reading looks like? Did you know that there may be a difference in the measurements collected at home or at the doctor’s? Do you understand the term ‘hypertension’, and know what it means? Did you know that your blood pressure naturally changes as you age? 

If the answer to any of these questions is ‘no’, then you’re not alone. 

A recent study by Hilo revealed that only 47% of the UK public have heard of the term ‘hypertension’ and understand what it means, while the rest – just over half – are unsure. This is a clear issue, indicating a major knowledge gap between this serious condition and the general public’s awareness and understanding. Being unaware of the dangers of hypertension and the measures that you can take to prevent the development of dangerously high blood pressure could have a direct impact upon your overall health, especially in later life. 

First things first: what’s normal BP?

Most commonly, medical professionals will tell you that normal blood pressure is below 120 over 80 (often written 120/80 mmHg). However, this general average value only applies to an adult. It is usually lower in children and adolescents, and slightly higher in the over 50s.

Blood Pressure Chart by Age: Children 

Blood Pressure Chart by Age and Gender: Adults

Is normal blood pressure different for men and women?

On average, girls have lower blood pressure than boys during puberty. In adulthood, this difference decreases, and starting around age 50, women have normal blood pressure ranges similar to men, with a difference amounting to only a few mm/Hg.

A healthy lifestyle, which includes exercise and a balanced diet, can usually normalise high blood pressure. If that is not enough, your doctor may prescribe antihypertensive medication to treat any cardiovascular problems. Regardless of whether you have a hypertension diagnosis or not, your blood pressure should be checked regularly, either at home with a clinically validated, certified medical device, such as the Hilo Band, or by using an inflatable cuff. 

What is hypertension?

Hypertension is a medical condition where your blood pressure is chronically high, and has the potential to give rise to serious health consequences. Hypertension is thought to cause more than half of all strokes and heart attacks in the UK, and is a known risk factor for heart disease, kidney disease, and vascular dementia. But while it is extremely common – around one in three adults in the UK have it – half of these sufferers are neither diagnosed nor receiving treatment. 

The key issue with hypertension is that, in most instances, it does not cause any symptoms, although it may, in rare cases, give rise to headaches, blurred vision and chest pain. If you experience these symptoms, it is important to seek urgent medical attention. Sadly some people only find out when it is too late, such as following a health emergency. 

The National Health Service states that it’s particularly important to get your blood pressure checked if you’re at higher risk of high blood pressure, for example if:

• You’re aged 40 or over
• You’re from a Black or South Asian background
• You have close relatives who have high blood pressure
• You smoke, drink too much alcohol or caffeine, or eat too much salt
• You’re living with obesity

Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure: What Are They?

When measuring blood pressure, two numbers are used: a larger one and a smaller one. Systolic blood pressure is represented by the top (or larger) number, and diastolic blood pressure is represented by the bottom (or smaller) number.

Systolic blood pressure: The systolic value indicates blood pressure when blood is pumped away from the heart into the arteries. This value reflects the condition of the heart muscle and the vascular system.

Diastolic blood pressure: The diastolic value is the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats, or during the relaxation phase.

Unlike diastolic pressure, which can plateau or decrease in older adults, systolic pressure continues to rise with age due to increasing stiffness of the arteries. Both values ​​are measured with the unit mm/Hg, meaning millimetres (mm) of mercury (Hg). Of both systolic and diastolic BP, it is the systolic one that becomes more and more important as we age, given its association with cardiovascular risk and propensity to increase. 

Hypertension diagnosis: what it means and how it’s done

Hypertension can only be formally diagnosed by healthcare professionals through blood pressure measurements, usually using an upper-arm cuff. But collected values can differ based on environment, which is why the NHS has issued guidelines relating to where your blood pressure is measured. You’re usually considered to have high blood pressure if your reading is:

• 140/90 or higher when checked by a healthcare professional
• 135/85 or higher when checked at home

One of the possible reasons for higher measurements at the doctor is ‘white coat syndrome’, where your blood pressure is raised due to the stress you feel while in the clinic. According to Blood Pressure UK, the top (systolic) number tends to be about 10 mmHg higher in a clinic than at home, and the bottom number tends to be about 5 mmHg higher. However, some people’s blood pressure will be affected more than others, and if you feel very worried or stressed it could be raised by as much as 30 mmHg! 

If you are worried about your blood pressure, and think you might have hypertension, speak to a medical professional.

Blood pressure and age: a direct link with cardiovascular risk

Measuring BP provides your medical team with an indication of how well your cardiovascular system is functioning, which is why doctors check blood pressure routinely during an examination, even when it may not be immediately related to the presenting complaint. For that reason, it’s important to know what your blood pressure is doing and if it is where it should be for your age. Older people often have higher measurements, due to the age-related stiffening of the major arteries. However, while this is a natural part of ageing and extremely common, it may increase the risk of serious health incidents such as heart attack or stroke in later life. This is why it’s important to lead as healthy a life as possible, for example by exercising regularly, eating healthily and, where possible, minimizing stress.

But there is something else. Alongside these lifestyle interventions, analysis of Hilo’s proprietary data has shown that regular engagement with blood pressure readings can lead to a reduction in values across all age-groups, although the reasons for this are unclear. 

Our recent report has shown that collecting and visualising long-term BP data encourages people to take better care of their heart health across all age groups, but particularly among younger adults. Furthermore, we revealed for the first time that individuals over the age of 50 who continuously monitored their BP using a Hilo Band could defy the increase typically observed in older populations, significantly cutting the risk of developing serious cardiovascular diseases in later life.

Final thoughts

Many people unknowingly suffer from hypertension because it does not cause any serious symptoms in the early stages. If BP values rise slowly over the years, symptoms may not become evident until it’s too late, therefore measuring blood pressure regularly is key: prevention is better than cure. 

Importantly, changing BP values can be indicative of other health effects. For example a change in blood pressure may indicate underlying diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, stress, high salt intake, excessive alcohol consumption and physical inactivity, to name but a few. 

It’s important to take age into account when evaluating blood pressure readings. What’s normal at an older age may be elevated for a younger person. Context is key, which is why you should always talk with a healthcare professional if you’re worried about your blood pressure or lifestyle. 

Disclaimer: “The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice. If you suspect hypertension or are worried about your blood pressure, speak to your doctor. They can advise on the best way to effectively manage it.”

Sources

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Age-based Pediatric Blood Pressure Reference Charts. Baylor College of Medicine. https://www.bcm.edu/bodycomplab/BPappZjs/BPvAgeAPPz.html (Accessed April 2026)

J. D. Wright, J. P Hughes, Y. Ostchega et al. (2011). Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure in adults aged 18 and over in the United States, 2001-2008. Natl. Health Stat. Report., 35, 1. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr035.pdf

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