A blood pressure of 113/65 is a good reading. It falls squarely within the normal category, which the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology define as below 120/80 mmHg. Both your systolic (top) number and diastolic (bottom) number are in the healthy range, and well above the threshold for low blood pressure.
Where 113/65 Falls on the Chart
The 2025 AHA/ACC guidelines, the most current available, classify blood pressure into four categories:
- Normal: below 120 systolic and below 80 diastolic
- Elevated: 120 to 129 systolic with diastolic still below 80
- Hypertension Stage 1: 130 to 139 systolic or 80 to 89 diastolic
- Hypertension Stage 2: 140 or higher systolic, or 90 or higher diastolic
At 113/65, both numbers land in the normal range. If your two numbers ever fall into different categories, the higher category is the one that counts. In your case, both point the same direction: normal.
Is the Diastolic Number Too Low?
A diastolic reading of 65 sometimes raises concern because it sits in the lower end of the typical range. Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is generally defined as a reading below 90/60 mmHg. Your reading of 113/65 is comfortably above that cutoff.
Most healthcare professionals only consider blood pressure “too low” if it causes symptoms. The numbers alone don’t tell the full story. A sudden drop of just 20 mmHg in systolic pressure can cause dizziness or fainting, but a consistently stable reading in the 113/65 range is not a concern. If you feel fine, the number is fine.
Symptoms that would suggest your blood pressure is actually too low include lightheadedness, dizziness when standing up, blurred vision, nausea, or unusual fatigue. If you experience these regularly, it’s worth getting checked, regardless of what the numbers say on paper.
What Pulse Pressure Tells You
Your pulse pressure is the gap between the top and bottom numbers. For 113/65, that’s 48 mmHg. The Mayo Clinic considers a pulse pressure around 40 to be healthy, and notes that values consistently above 40 may reflect some degree of arterial stiffness, particularly in older adults.
A pulse pressure of 48 is slightly above that benchmark but not unusual or alarming on its own. Arterial stiffness tends to increase with age as cholesterol and other deposits accumulate in blood vessel walls. In younger adults, a pulse pressure in the upper 40s is common and not typically a sign of any problem. It becomes more meaningful when tracked over years alongside other cardiovascular risk factors.
A Common Reading for Active People
If you’re physically active, a reading of 113/65 is almost textbook. A study published in the Journal of Athletic Training measured resting blood pressure in both endurance athletes (runners, cyclists, swimmers) and non-endurance athletes (team sports, strength sports). The average resting blood pressure for endurance athletes was 114/64, and for non-endurance athletes it was 116/65. Your reading of 113/65 sits right at the mean for fit, healthy individuals.
Among endurance athletes in the study, systolic readings ranged from 88 to 145, and diastolic readings from 45 to 82. The wide range shows just how much individual variation exists even among healthy people. Regular exercise tends to push blood pressure toward the lower end of normal, which is a good thing for long-term heart health.
Blood Pressure Targets Change With Age
For most adults under 80, clinical guidelines recommend keeping systolic pressure below 140 mmHg, with an ideal target below 130/80. For adults 80 and older, guidelines loosen slightly, accepting systolic readings in the 140 to 150 range because aggressive lowering can sometimes cause falls or other complications in that age group.
At 113/65, you’re well below even the stricter targets. This is the range where no lifestyle changes or treatments are recommended for blood pressure specifically. The goal at this point is simply maintaining whatever you’re already doing.
Getting an Accurate Reading
A single reading is a snapshot, not a diagnosis. Blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day based on stress, caffeine, hydration, body position, and even the time since your last meal. If you’re measuring at home, a few things affect accuracy.
Cuff size matters more than most people realize. A cuff that’s too small for your arm can overestimate your blood pressure by 5 mmHg or more, and in some cases by over 10 mmHg when combined with incorrect positioning. The center of the cuff’s inflatable bladder should sit directly over the artery on the inside of your upper arm. Modern oscillometric monitors (the digital ones most people use at home) are more forgiving of slight cuff misplacement than manual monitors, with positioning errors typically affecting readings by less than 1.5 mmHg.
For the most reliable picture of your blood pressure, take readings at the same time each day, sit quietly for five minutes beforehand, keep your feet flat on the floor, and support your arm at heart level. Two or three readings taken a minute apart, averaged together, give you a more trustworthy number than any single measurement.