A blood pressure of 106/74 mmHg is a good reading. It falls squarely in the normal category, which the American Heart Association defines as below 120/80 mmHg. It’s also well above the low blood pressure threshold of 90/60 mmHg, meaning it sits in the sweet spot between too high and too low.
Where 106/74 Falls on the Scale
Blood pressure is measured in two numbers. The top number (systolic) reflects the pressure when your heart beats, and the bottom number (diastolic) reflects the pressure between beats. At 106/74, both numbers land in the normal range: systolic under 120, diastolic under 80.
A large study of more than one million adults published in the AHA journal Circulation found that the lowest rate of death from blood vessel disease occurred in people with a systolic pressure between 90 and 109 mmHg. Stroke risk in this group was essentially the same as the reference population, with no statistically significant increase. In practical terms, a systolic reading of 106 is right in the range associated with the best cardiovascular outcomes.
Your pulse pressure, the gap between the two numbers, is also healthy. At 32 mmHg (106 minus 74), it’s below the 40 mmHg threshold that the Mayo Clinic considers the upper limit of normal. A wider gap can signal stiffer arteries, so a narrower one at this level is reassuring.
Why Some People Run Lower Than Average
If 106/74 feels low compared to the 120/80 you always hear about, that’s because 120/80 is the ceiling of normal, not the target. One of the largest meta-analyses on blood pressure, covering nearly a million people and 56,000 cardiovascular deaths, identified 115/75 mmHg as the optimal reading. Your numbers are close to that mark.
People who exercise regularly tend to have lower resting blood pressure. Physical activity improves blood vessel flexibility and reduces the resistance your heart has to pump against. Research comparing competitive master athletes to the general population found that hypertension rates in the general population were 26 to 70 percent higher than in the athletic group. So if you’re physically active, a reading like 106/74 is especially typical and reflects a well-conditioned cardiovascular system.
Age and sex also play a role. Diastolic pressure (the bottom number) tends to be lowest in men between ages 31 and 40, averaging around 75.5 mmHg, then rises through the mid-50s. Systolic pressure generally climbs with age. A reading of 106/74 is more common in younger adults and in women, though it’s healthy at any age as long as you feel fine.
When a Low Reading Becomes a Problem
Blood pressure only counts as “too low” when it drops below 90/60 mmHg or causes symptoms. At 106/74, you’re well above that line. Most people with blood pressure on the lower end of normal never experience any issues.
If blood pressure does drop too far, the most common symptom is lightheadedness or dizziness, especially when standing up quickly. In more significant drops, fainting can occur. These symptoms happen because the heart isn’t generating enough pressure to push adequate blood to the brain. If you’re not experiencing any of these, your reading is simply a sign of healthy circulation, not a concern.
Getting an Accurate Reading
A single blood pressure reading is a snapshot, not a diagnosis. To know your true baseline, you need multiple readings taken correctly over several days. Clinical guidelines recommend sitting with your feet flat on the floor, your back supported, and your arm resting at heart level. Stay seated for at least two minutes before taking the measurement, and avoid exercise, caffeine, smoking, or alcohol for at least 30 minutes beforehand.
Take at least two readings each time, spaced one minute apart, and average them. Ideally, measure in both the morning and evening over at least three days, though seven days gives a more reliable picture. One useful tip: readings from the very first day tend to be higher due to unfamiliarity with the process, so some guidelines suggest discarding that first day’s numbers when calculating your average.
If your average across multiple sessions stays in the range you’re seeing now, you have a genuinely healthy blood pressure. There’s no clinical benefit to trying to lower it further, and no reason to worry about it being too low.