A blood pressure of 113/73 is a good reading. It falls well below the hypertension threshold of 130/80 and sits in what guidelines consider the healthiest range for cardiovascular health. Both numbers, the systolic (113) and the diastolic (73), are in a zone associated with low risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.
Where 113/73 Falls in Blood Pressure Categories
Current U.S. guidelines from the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology use these categories for all adults, regardless of age:
- Normal: below 120/80
- Elevated: 120 to 129 systolic and below 80 diastolic
- Stage 1 hypertension: 130 to 139 systolic or 80 to 89 diastolic
- Stage 2 hypertension: 140/90 or higher
At 113/73, you’re comfortably in the normal category. The 2025 update to these guidelines reaffirmed a treatment goal of below 130/80, with encouragement to get below 120/80 for most adults. Your reading already meets that more ambitious target.
European guidelines take a slightly different approach. The 2024 European Society of Cardiology guidelines define “non-elevated” blood pressure as below 120 systolic and below 70 diastolic, and “elevated” as 120 to 139 systolic or 70 to 89 diastolic. Under that framework, your diastolic of 73 technically lands in the elevated diastolic range, though your systolic is still in the non-elevated zone. The ESC intentionally avoids calling any specific range “optimal” because cardiovascular risk exists on a continuous spectrum rather than in neat boxes. Still, a reading of 113/73 is far from any threshold that would prompt concern or treatment under either system.
What the Numbers Mean
The top number (113) is your systolic pressure, the force your blood exerts against artery walls each time your heart beats. The bottom number (73) is your diastolic pressure, the residual force between beats when your heart relaxes. Both numbers matter, but systolic pressure tends to get more attention because it’s a stronger predictor of cardiovascular events, especially as people age.
Cardiovascular Risk at This Level
A large study of over 25,000 adults tracked cardiovascular events across different systolic blood pressure ranges, all within the normal zone of 90 to 129. The incidence of cardiovascular events per 1,000 person-years rose with each step up: 1.45 for systolic readings of 90 to 99, 2.15 for 100 to 109, 3.06 for 110 to 119, and 3.80 for 120 to 129. Your systolic of 113 places you in the 110 to 119 bracket.
The important takeaway: after adjusting for other risk factors, none of these groups had a statistically significant increase in cardiovascular risk compared to the lowest group. A systolic pressure anywhere between 90 and 129 carried no meaningful added risk in otherwise healthy people. So while lower readings within that range showed slightly fewer events in raw numbers, the differences weren’t large enough to be clinically significant.
Is It Too Low?
No. Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is generally defined as a reading below 90/60. At 113/73, you’re well above that line. More importantly, most healthcare professionals consider blood pressure “too low” only when it causes symptoms like dizziness, fainting, blurred vision, fatigue, or trouble concentrating. If you feel fine, there’s no reason to worry about a reading in this range being too low.
What can be dangerous is a sudden drop. A shift of just 20 points in either direction can cause lightheadedness or fainting, even if the resulting number looks normal on paper. This is why consistent, gradual readings matter more than any single measurement.
Making Sure Your Reading Is Accurate
A single reading of 113/73 is encouraging, but blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day based on activity, stress, caffeine, and even how you’re sitting. To know your true baseline, the CDC recommends following a specific protocol when measuring at home:
- Timing: Don’t eat, drink, or exercise for 30 minutes beforehand. Empty your bladder first.
- Position: Sit with your back supported and both feet flat on the floor, legs uncrossed, for at least five minutes before measuring.
- Cuff placement: Rest your arm on a table at chest height. The cuff should sit on bare skin, snug but not tight.
- Silence: Don’t talk during the reading.
- Repetition: Take at least two readings one to two minutes apart and record both. Measure at the same time each day.
If your readings consistently cluster around 113/73 using this method, you can be confident the number reflects your actual resting blood pressure. Readings taken in a rush, after coffee, or while talking can skew results by 10 to 15 points in either direction.
Keeping It in This Range
Blood pressure tends to rise with age, so a good reading today doesn’t guarantee the same number in five or ten years. The habits that keep blood pressure low are the ones you’d expect: regular physical activity, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while low in sodium, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, and managing stress. These aren’t just preventive measures. For people whose blood pressure has already started creeping up, lifestyle changes alone can bring systolic pressure down by 5 to 15 points, sometimes enough to avoid medication entirely.
If you’re already at 113/73 without actively trying, you’re in a strong position. The goal is to stay there.