A blood pressure of 100/70 mmHg is a good reading. It falls squarely within the normal category, which the American Heart Association defines as below 120/80 mmHg. Not only is it normal, it sits comfortably in the range associated with lower cardiovascular risk.
Where 100/70 Falls on the Chart
The 2025 AHA guidelines divide adult blood pressure into four categories:
- Normal: below 120 systolic and below 80 diastolic
- Elevated: 120 to 129 systolic and below 80 diastolic
- Stage 1 hypertension: 130 to 139 systolic or 80 to 89 diastolic
- Stage 2 hypertension: 140 or higher systolic, or 90 or higher diastolic
At 100/70, both numbers are well within the normal range. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute defines a healthy blood pressure as less than 120 systolic and less than 80 diastolic, so your reading meets that standard with room to spare.
Is It Too Low?
Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is generally defined as a systolic reading below 90 or a diastolic reading below 60. A reading of 100/70 doesn’t meet either of those thresholds. It’s in a sweet spot: low enough to be protective for your heart and blood vessels, but not so low that it’s likely to cause problems.
That said, blood pressure numbers alone don’t tell the whole story. What matters is how you feel. If you regularly get readings around 100/70 and have no symptoms, there’s nothing to worry about. If you’re experiencing dizziness, lightheadedness, blurred vision, fatigue, trouble concentrating, or fainting, those symptoms deserve attention regardless of what the number says. A sudden drop of even 20 mmHg from your usual reading can make you feel dizzy or faint, so context matters more than any single number.
Why Some People Naturally Run Lower
Plenty of healthy people consistently read around 100/70. Women tend to have slightly lower blood pressure than men, and physically active people often see lower resting readings. Research on adult athletes found that those in endurance sports and ball games had lower blood pressure than both static-power athletes and non-athletes, though the difference between fit and average adults is only about 3 to 4 mmHg. So while exercise contributes to lower readings, genetics and body size play a larger role.
Younger adults also tend to have lower blood pressure that gradually rises with age. If you’re in your 20s or 30s, a reading of 100/70 is especially common and expected.
100/70 During Pregnancy
Normal blood pressure during pregnancy is 120/80 or lower, so 100/70 fits within that range. Blood pressure often dips during the first and second trimesters as blood vessels relax to accommodate increased blood flow. Many pregnant people see readings in the low 100s during this period, and it typically rises back to baseline in the third trimester. Persistent dizziness or fainting is worth mentioning to your provider, but the number itself isn’t a concern.
Considerations for Older Adults
For people over 65, a reading of 100/70 is still technically normal, but it warrants a bit more attention. Older adults are more sensitive to blood pressure dips, and lower readings can increase the risk of falls, especially when standing up quickly. If you take blood pressure medication and your readings are consistently around 100/70, your provider may want to adjust your dose. A practical tip: get up slowly from sitting or lying down and stand still for a moment before walking. This gives your circulation time to adjust and reduces lightheadedness.
Making Sure Your Reading Is Accurate
A single blood pressure reading is just a snapshot. To know if 100/70 is truly your baseline, you need multiple readings taken correctly. Use an upper arm cuff monitor, which tends to be more accurate than wrist models. The cuff size matters: one that’s too small or too large will skew your results. Sit quietly for five minutes before measuring, keep your feet flat on the floor, and rest your arm at heart level.
When you first start tracking at home, measure at least twice a day. Take the monitor to your next appointment so your provider can compare its readings against theirs and confirm it’s calibrated correctly. People with irregular heartbeats should be aware that home monitors may not always give accurate readings in that situation.
If your readings consistently cluster around 100/70 across multiple days and times, you can be confident that’s a reliable number, and a healthy one at that.