Which of the following is a commonly cited normal range for adult systolic/diastolic blood pressure?

• A. 110-140 / 70-90
• B. 80-100 / 50-60
• C. 90-120 / 60-80
• D. 120-140 / 80-90

Answer: (C)

Systolic pressure is the force when the heart beats, and diastolic is the pressure when the heart rests between beats. A commonly cited normal resting range for adults is 90–120 mm Hg systolic and 60–80 mm Hg diastolic. This pairing reflects good perfusion with a low risk of cardiovascular problems, which is why it’s used as the standard example of a normal adult blood pressure. Values outside this range tend to indicate higher risk (too high) or too low perfusion (too low).