A blood pressure of 116/60 mmHg falls within the normal category. The 2025 guidelines from the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology define normal blood pressure as a systolic (top number) below 120 and a diastolic (bottom number) below 80. Your reading clears both thresholds, so by standard classification, this is a healthy result.
That said, a diastolic reading of 60 sits right at the lower boundary of what’s typically considered comfortable, and some people with readings in this range notice symptoms worth paying attention to. Here’s what your numbers actually tell you.
Where 116/60 Falls on the Scale
Current guidelines sort adult blood pressure into four categories: normal (below 120/80), elevated (120 to 129 systolic with diastolic still under 80), stage 1 hypertension, and stage 2 hypertension. At 116/60, both your numbers land in the normal range, which is the healthiest category. You’re not close to elevated territory on the systolic side, and your diastolic is well below the 80 cutoff.
Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is generally defined as anything below 90/60. Since your systolic is 116 and your diastolic is 60, you’re above that threshold. But your diastolic is sitting right on the edge, which is worth understanding in more detail.
What a Diastolic of 60 Means
The diastolic number reflects the pressure in your arteries between heartbeats, when your heart is resting and refilling with blood. A diastolic of 60 is normal, but it’s at the low end of the typical range. Most healthcare professionals only consider low blood pressure a problem when it causes symptoms, so if you feel fine, a diastolic of 60 is not a concern.
Research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that diastolic readings below 58 mmHg were associated with a 40% higher risk of cardiovascular events in people being treated for high blood pressure. This “J-curve” pattern, where risk rises at both very high and very low diastolic pressures, is most relevant to older adults on blood pressure medication. If you’re not taking medication and your diastolic naturally sits around 60, the context is different and generally reassuring.
Your Pulse Pressure Is Worth Noting
Pulse pressure is the gap between your top and bottom numbers. For a reading of 116/60, that’s 56 mmHg. A healthy pulse pressure is generally around 40. Values consistently above 60 are considered a risk factor for heart disease, particularly in older adults, because they can signal stiffening of the arteries.
At 56, your pulse pressure is slightly above the ideal but below the concerning threshold of 60. In younger, healthy people, a moderately wide pulse pressure often reflects strong heart output rather than arterial stiffness. If you’re over 50 and consistently see a pulse pressure in this range, it’s worth mentioning at your next checkup.
Why Active People Often See Lower Readings
Regular exercise naturally lowers resting blood pressure by 3 to 4 mmHg in people who already have normal readings, and by as much as 9 to 10 mmHg in people with high blood pressure. If you’re physically active, a reading of 116/60 is especially unsurprising.
Among athletes, blood pressure varies by sport type. People who do endurance and speed-based activities (running, cycling, swimming) tend to have the lowest resting pressures, while power athletes (weightlifters, for instance) often run higher. In one large study, female athletes averaged a systolic of about 116, very close to your reading. Diastolic values in female athletes ranged from the low 70s to the mid-80s depending on sport, with endurance athletes clustering at the lower end.
Symptoms That Change the Picture
A blood pressure reading only tells part of the story. The other part is how you feel. Most healthcare professionals treat low-range blood pressure as a problem only when it produces symptoms. These can include dizziness or lightheadedness (especially when standing up quickly), blurred vision, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, or nausea.
A sudden drop of even 20 mmHg can cause dizziness or fainting, which is why positional changes matter more than the resting number alone. If you regularly feel lightheaded when you stand, that pattern is more important than any single reading. Falls from blood pressure-related dizziness are one of the biggest risks of hypotension, particularly for older adults.
If you feel alert, energetic, and stable on your feet, 116/60 is working well for your body.
Making Sure Your Reading Is Accurate
A single reading can be off by quite a bit depending on the circumstances. To get a reliable number at home, sit quietly for five minutes beforehand with your back supported and your feet flat on the floor. Keep your legs uncrossed. Rest the arm you’re measuring on a surface at heart level, using a pillow underneath if needed. Always use the same arm.
After the first measurement, wait one to three minutes and take a second reading. If the two numbers differ significantly, take a third. Your true resting blood pressure is the average across multiple readings, ideally taken on different days at roughly the same time. One reading of 116/60 is encouraging, but a consistent pattern of 116/60 over several days is much more meaningful.