Ideal Blood Pressure Readings for Children

According to a study by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association," American children's average blood pressure has risen approximately two points between 1988 and 2000. The rise in the rate of overweight and obese children is largely responsible for this rise. Blood pressure should be monitored on a regular basis in children, and treatment administered if it becomes a consistent problem.

Preschoolers

• The NHLBI states that in children ages 1 to 4, the average ideal blood pressure reading should be 85/37 to 93/50 in boys and 86/40 to 91/52 in girls.

Ages 5 to 8

• Boys between the ages of 5 and 8 will have an ideal blood pressure reading of between 93/53 to 97/59, and the average reading for girls is 91/54 to 98/58.

Preteens

• Boys aged 9 to 12 have an average ideal blood pressure of 100/61 to 106/62. For girls in this age range, the NHLBI has established an average reading of 100/59 to 105/62

Adolescents

• By puberty, ideal blood pressure levels in children are close to that of adults: children from 13 to 17 have average ideal readings of 106/62 to 118/67 in boys and 107/63 to 111/66 in girls.

Expert Insight

• According to the National Institutes of Health, blood pressure naturally rises as children age. While there is a wide range of normal ideal blood pressure levels for children, if the readings are regularly on the high end, the child should be evaluated for hypertension.