Which of the following blood pressures falls within the normal range?

Which of the following blood pressures falls within the normal range?

• A. 119/75
• B. 135/90
• C. 89/70
• D. 140/80

Answer: (A)

Normal blood pressure is defined as a systolic pressure under 120 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure under 80 mm Hg. The reading 119/75 fits both limits, so it’s within the normal range. The other options don’t: 135/90 has a diastolic of 90 (above normal), 89/70 has a systolic of 89 (below the typical normal lower bound of 90), and 140/80 has a systolic of 140 (at or above the threshold for hypertension). So the only normal reading is 119/75.

Normal blood pressure is defined as a systolic pressure under 120 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure under 80 mm Hg. The reading 119/75 fits both limits, so it’s within the normal range. The other options don’t: 135/90 has a diastolic of 90 (above normal), 89/70 has a systolic of 89 (below the typical normal lower bound of 90), and 140/80 has a systolic of 140 (at or above the threshold for hypertension). So the only normal reading is 119/75.