A blood pressure of 100/67 is a good reading. It falls well within the normal range, which is anything below 120/80 mmHg, and it’s comfortably above the threshold for low blood pressure, which starts below 90/60 mmHg. For most people, this number is not just normal but closer to optimal for long-term heart health.
Where 100/67 Falls on the Scale
Blood pressure categories are straightforward. Normal is below 120/80 mmHg. High blood pressure (hypertension) starts at 130/80 mmHg or above. Low blood pressure (hypotension) is generally defined as below 90/60 mmHg. Your reading of 100/67 sits in the lower half of the normal range, with both numbers clearing the low blood pressure cutoff by a comfortable margin.
What makes this reading especially reassuring is recent research on cardiovascular outcomes at different blood pressure levels. An NHLBI-supported study analyzed records of over 1,400 healthy adults with systolic readings (the top number) between 90 and 129 mmHg. Over a 10-year period, people with systolic pressure in the 100 to 109 range experienced about 4 cardiovascular events per 1,000 people. That’s half the rate seen in people reading 120 to 129, where the number climbed to 8.3 per 1,000. The study’s average blood pressure among participants was 111/67 mmHg, remarkably close to your reading, and median heart disease risk in that group was just 3%.
In other words, 100/67 isn’t just “fine.” It’s associated with some of the lowest cardiovascular risk you can have.
Why Some People Run Lower
Blood pressure varies naturally from person to person, and several factors can explain why yours sits on the lower side of normal. Regular physical activity is one of the most common reasons. Research shows that consistent exercise lowers resting blood pressure by about 3 to 4 mmHg in people who already have normal readings. Endurance athletes and people who do aerobic-type activities (running, cycling, swimming) tend to have the lowest resting pressures, while strength-focused athletes can actually run slightly higher due to how heavy lifting affects blood vessel resistance.
Age and body size also play a role. Younger adults, women, and people with smaller frames often have naturally lower blood pressure. During pregnancy, blood pressure commonly dips in the first and second trimesters before rising again closer to delivery, so 100/67 would be entirely expected in that context as well.
When a Low-Normal Reading Deserves Attention
The number on the cuff matters less than how you feel. Most healthcare professionals consider blood pressure too low only when it causes symptoms. If you’re walking around at 100/67 and feeling perfectly fine, there’s nothing to address.
The symptoms worth paying attention to include frequent dizziness or lightheadedness (especially when standing up quickly), blurred vision, unusual fatigue, nausea, or fainting. These can signal that your blood pressure is dropping too low for your body to keep blood flowing effectively to your brain and organs. Dehydration, certain medications (particularly those for high blood pressure, depression, or prostate conditions), and some endocrine disorders can push an already lower reading into symptomatic territory.
If you’re experiencing any of those symptoms regularly alongside readings in this range, it’s worth bringing up at your next appointment. But a single reading of 100/67 with no symptoms is one of the healthiest numbers you could see on a blood pressure monitor.
Getting an Accurate Reading
Blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day based on activity, stress, hydration, caffeine, and even the position of your arm. A single reading is a snapshot, not a diagnosis. If you’re monitoring at home, take your reading after sitting quietly for five minutes with your feet flat on the floor and your arm supported at heart level. Check at roughly the same time each day, and average several readings over a week to get a reliable picture.
If your readings consistently hover around 100/67, you’re in an excellent range. Your top number is well below the 120 threshold where cardiovascular risk starts to climb meaningfully, and your bottom number is solidly in normal territory. For long-term heart and blood vessel health, lower is generally better, as long as your body isn’t telling you otherwise.