A blood pressure of 108/70 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 threshold for low blood pressure (90/60 mmHg), meaning it sits in a healthy sweet spot.
What 108/70 Means on the Blood Pressure Chart
Blood pressure is measured in two numbers. The top number (108 in your case) is systolic pressure, which reflects the force in your arteries each time your heart beats. The bottom number (70) is diastolic pressure, the force between beats when your heart is resting. Both of your numbers need to be in range for the reading to count as normal, and yours are.
The 2025 AHA guidelines sort adult blood pressure into four categories:
- Normal: below 120/80 mmHg
- Elevated: 120 to 129 systolic with diastolic still below 80
- Stage 1 hypertension: 130 to 139 systolic or 80 to 89 diastolic
- Stage 2 hypertension: 140/90 mmHg or higher
At 108/70, you have comfortable margin below the elevated threshold. There’s no separate “optimal” category in the current guidelines, but readings in your range are associated with the lowest cardiovascular risk.
Is 108/70 Too Low?
No. Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is generally defined as a reading below 90/60 mmHg. Your reading is 18 points above that systolic cutoff and 10 points above the diastolic one. Most health professionals only consider blood pressure “too low” when it causes symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, or blurred vision. If you feel fine at 108/70, your body is circulating blood effectively.
Some people naturally run on the lower end of normal and always have. This is especially common in physically active individuals. A study of nearly 3,700 young athletes found that female athletes averaged a systolic pressure around 116 and male athletes around 126. Athletes’ resting blood pressure tends to be about 3 to 4 mmHg lower than non-athletes, so a reading like 108/70 is unremarkable in someone who exercises regularly.
Does Age or Pregnancy Change Anything?
Current guidelines use the same blood pressure categories for all adults regardless of age. Older guidelines once set a higher threshold (150/80) for people over 65, but that distinction was eliminated in 2017. Whether you’re 25 or 75, below 120/80 is the target.
During pregnancy, the same general categories apply. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists defines normal pregnancy blood pressure as less than 120/80. Gestational hypertension starts at 140/90. A reading of 108/70 during pregnancy is healthy and far from the range that would raise concern about preeclampsia or related complications.
Making Sure Your Reading Is Accurate
A single blood pressure reading is a snapshot, not a diagnosis. For the number to be meaningful, you need to measure it correctly. The CDC recommends this protocol for home readings:
- Before measuring: Avoid food, drinks, and caffeine for 30 minutes. Empty your bladder.
- Positioning: Sit with your back supported and both feet flat on the floor, legs uncrossed. Rest your arm on a table at chest height.
- During the reading: Don’t talk. Place the cuff on bare skin, not over clothing.
- Repeat: Take at least two readings, one to two minutes apart, and use the average.
Skipping the five-minute rest period, crossing your legs, or talking during the measurement can each shift your reading by several points in either direction. If you followed these steps and got 108/70, you can trust the number. If you didn’t, it’s worth retaking it properly to confirm.
Keeping Your Blood Pressure in This Range
The habits that maintain healthy blood pressure are straightforward: regular physical activity, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, limited sodium intake, moderate alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing stress. You don’t need to do anything dramatic at 108/70. The goal is simply to stay where you are.
Blood pressure tends to rise gradually with age as arteries stiffen, so the lifestyle patterns you set now matter more than any single reading. Checking your blood pressure at home a few times a month gives you a reliable trend line and helps you catch any upward drift early, long before it crosses into elevated or hypertensive territory.