A blood pressure of 108/73 mmHg is a good reading. It falls squarely in the “normal” category, which the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology define as below 120/80 mmHg. Both your systolic pressure (the top number, 108) and your diastolic pressure (the bottom number, 73) are well within the healthy range, with comfortable margin before reaching the next category up.
Where 108/73 Falls on the Chart
Blood pressure is grouped into four categories:
- Normal: below 120 systolic and below 80 diastolic
- 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+ systolic or 90+ diastolic
At 108/73, you’re 12 points below the elevated threshold on the top number and 7 points below on the bottom. These categories were reaffirmed in the 2025 joint guidelines from the AHA and ACC, which set the overarching treatment goal for all adults at below 130/80. Your reading already clears that target by a wide margin.
When the two numbers fall into different categories, the higher category is the one that counts. In your case, both numbers land in normal, so there’s no ambiguity.
Is 108/73 Too Low?
Normal adult blood pressure ranges from 90/60 to 120/80 mmHg. A reading of 108/73 sits comfortably in the middle of that window, nowhere near the low end. Most health professionals only consider blood pressure “too low” when it causes symptoms, not based on the number alone.
That said, what matters is how you feel. A sudden drop of just 20 mmHg in systolic pressure (say, from 110 down to 90) can cause dizziness or fainting even though 90 is still technically within the normal range. If you consistently feel fine at 108/73, there’s nothing to worry about. Symptoms that could signal a problem include blurred vision, lightheadedness, fatigue, trouble concentrating, and nausea. These would point to blood pressure that’s too low for your body specifically, regardless of what the chart says.
What Your Pulse Pressure Shows
Pulse pressure is the gap between your top and bottom numbers. For a reading of 108/73, that’s 35 mmHg. A healthy pulse pressure is generally around 40 mmHg, and readings above 40 can signal stiffening of the arteries over time. At 35, yours is slightly below that benchmark but not in a concerning way. A narrow pulse pressure only becomes a clinical issue at much lower values, typically below 25, which can indicate reduced heart output.
How Active People Compare
If you exercise regularly, a reading of 108/73 is especially typical. In a study of nearly 3,700 young athletes aged 19 to 40, women averaged a systolic pressure of about 116 and a diastolic of 75. Men averaged higher, around 126/80. Athletes in endurance and speed sports tended to have the lowest readings. Regular training lowers resting blood pressure by about 3 to 4 mmHg on average and reduces the long-term risk of developing hypertension. So if you’re physically active, 108/73 is right in line with what’s expected.
Home Readings vs. Office Readings
Where you took the reading matters. Blood pressure measured at home tends to run a few points lower than readings taken in a clinic, partly because of the “white coat” effect (the slight anxiety of being in a medical setting). Guidelines account for this: the AHA considers a home reading below 130/80 well controlled, while European guidelines use a slightly more lenient home threshold of below 135/85. If your 108/73 came from a home monitor, it likely reflects your true resting pressure more accurately than an office visit would.
For the most reliable picture, take readings at the same time of day, sitting quietly for five minutes beforehand, with your arm supported at heart level. Two or three readings a minute apart, averaged together, give you the most consistent number. A single reading is a snapshot. Patterns over days and weeks tell the real story.
Keeping Your Blood Pressure in This Range
A normal reading now doesn’t guarantee a normal reading in ten years. Blood pressure tends to creep upward with age as arteries gradually stiffen. The habits that help maintain your current numbers are the same ones recommended for people trying to lower theirs: staying physically active, eating enough potassium-rich foods (fruits, vegetables, beans), limiting sodium, managing stress, keeping alcohol moderate, and maintaining a healthy weight. None of this needs to be extreme. Consistency matters more than intensity.
If your blood pressure was previously higher and has come down to 108/73 through lifestyle changes, that’s a meaningful improvement in cardiovascular risk. The current guidelines emphasize that lifestyle modification is the first-line approach, with medication reserved for readings that stay at or above 130/80 in people with additional risk factors, or at or above 140/90 for everyone else.