A blood pressure of 104/74 is a good reading. It falls squarely within the normal category, which the American Heart Association defines as below 120/80 mmHg. It’s also well above the threshold for low blood pressure, which is generally considered 90/60 mmHg or lower.
What the Two Numbers Mean
The top number (104) is your systolic pressure, the peak force your blood exerts against artery walls when your heart contracts. The bottom number (74) is your diastolic pressure, the baseline pressure between beats when your heart relaxes and refills. Both numbers matter, and in your case, both sit comfortably in the normal range.
Where 104/74 Falls on the Scale
The American Heart Association breaks blood pressure into distinct categories. Here’s where 104/74 lands:
- Normal: below 120/80 mmHg
- Elevated: 120–129 systolic and below 80 diastolic
- High blood pressure stage 1: 130–139 systolic or 80–89 diastolic
- High blood pressure stage 2: 140/90 mmHg or higher
- Low blood pressure: below 90/60 mmHg
At 104/74, you’re in the normal zone with room to spare on both ends. Your systolic is 16 points above the low blood pressure cutoff and 16 points below the elevated threshold. Your diastolic is 14 points above the low cutoff and 6 below the elevated line.
Is It Too Low?
Some people worry that a reading in the low 100s is too low. It isn’t. Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is defined as a reading below 90/60 mmHg, and most health professionals only consider it a problem if it causes symptoms. Many people naturally run on the lower end of normal and feel perfectly fine. If that describes you, there’s nothing to address.
Symptoms worth paying attention to include dizziness, lightheadedness, blurred vision, fatigue, or fainting. These signal that your body isn’t compensating for a drop in pressure. But a reading of 104/74 with no symptoms is simply a healthy blood pressure.
A Note for People on Blood Pressure Medication
Context matters. For someone who isn’t taking any medication, 104/74 is straightforwardly good news. For someone on blood pressure medication, the picture is slightly more nuanced. A large observational study found that treated patients whose blood pressure was pushed below 120/70 mmHg actually had a higher rate of cardiovascular events than those maintained in the 120–139/70–89 range. This suggests a J-shaped curve where going too low on medication can carry its own risks.
Your diastolic of 74 is above that 70 mmHg threshold, so this finding is less relevant to your specific reading. But if you’re on medication and your numbers are trending lower over time, it’s worth discussing the target range with whoever prescribed it.
Age Doesn’t Change the Category
You might wonder whether 104/74 means something different depending on your age. Current guidelines from the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology use the same thresholds for all adults, regardless of age. The major clinical trial that informed these guidelines didn’t separate recommendations for people above or below 65. So whether you’re 25 or 75, 104/74 is considered normal.
Making Sure the Reading Is Accurate
A single blood pressure reading is a snapshot, and technique affects accuracy more than most people realize. The CDC recommends a specific process: avoid food, drinks, and caffeine for 30 minutes beforehand. Empty your bladder. Sit with your back supported and both feet flat on the floor for at least five minutes before measuring. Rest your arm on a surface at chest height, place the cuff against bare skin, keep your legs uncrossed, and don’t talk during the reading.
Skipping these steps can shift your numbers by 10 points or more in either direction. If you got 104/74 under good conditions, you can feel confident in the result. If you took it casually, like right after walking or with your arm dangling at your side, it’s worth retaking it with the proper setup. Taking two or three readings a minute apart and averaging them gives the most reliable picture.