A blood pressure of 117/64 is a good reading. It falls squarely in the normal category, with both numbers sitting below the thresholds that signal concern. By current American Heart Association standards, normal blood pressure is a systolic (top number) below 120 and a diastolic (bottom number) below 80. At 117/64, you clear both marks.
Where 117/64 Falls on the Scale
Blood pressure classifications work in tiers. Normal is below 120/80. Elevated starts at 120-129 systolic with a diastolic still under 80. Stage 1 hypertension begins at 130/80, and Stage 2 at 140/90 or higher. Your reading of 117/64 sits comfortably in the normal range, just a few points below the cutoff where doctors start paying closer attention.
The 2024 European Society of Cardiology guidelines use slightly different language, classifying anything below 120/70 as “nonelevated” blood pressure, a range where medication is not recommended. They deliberately avoid calling any blood pressure level “optimal” because cardiovascular risk continues to rise slightly with each point of increase, even within the normal range. In practical terms, though, 117/64 is about as good as it gets for a resting reading.
Is the Diastolic Number Too Low?
A diastolic reading of 64 is not considered low. There’s no single hard cutoff for hypotension that applies to everyone, but doctors generally watch for diastolic numbers dropping below 60. At 64, you have a comfortable margin above that threshold.
That said, blood pressure that’s technically “normal” on paper can still cause symptoms in some people. If you experience dizziness, lightheadedness, blurred vision, fatigue, or fainting, those symptoms matter regardless of what the numbers say. Orthostatic hypotension, a drop of 20 or more points in systolic pressure when you stand up, is one common culprit. It’s diagnosed not by a single resting reading but by measuring the change in pressure when you shift from sitting to standing. Many people with lower blood pressure never notice any symptoms at all.
What Your Pulse Pressure Tells You
Pulse pressure is the gap between your top and bottom numbers. For a reading of 117/64, that’s 53. A healthy pulse pressure generally falls between 40 and 60. Yours lands right in the middle of that range, which is a good sign for heart and artery health. A pulse pressure consistently above 60 can signal stiffening arteries and is considered a risk factor for heart disease, particularly in older adults. At 53, there’s nothing to flag.
How This Reading Affects Long-Term Health
Keeping your systolic pressure around 120 or below is linked to meaningfully lower rates of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. The landmark SPRINT trial found that targeting a systolic pressure of 120 or less, rather than the older standard of 140, reduced the chance of these events over a three-year period. A large prospective study published in the AHA’s journal Hypertension identified 121 as the systolic threshold above which cardiovascular events begin to increase significantly. At 117, you’re below that line.
Current U.S. guidelines apply the same blood pressure targets regardless of age. Older recommendations used to give more leeway for people over 65, but that changed in 2017 when the AHA and eight other health organizations unified the guidelines. Whether you’re 30 or 70, 117/64 is considered a healthy reading.
Keeping Your Numbers Where They Are
Blood pressure is not static. It shifts throughout the day based on activity, stress, hydration, sleep, and what you’ve eaten. A single reading of 117/64 is encouraging, but the pattern over time matters more than any individual measurement. If you’re checking at home, take readings at the same time of day, sitting quietly for five minutes beforehand, with your arm supported at heart level.
The lifestyle factors that maintain healthy blood pressure are straightforward: regular physical activity, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while lower in sodium, moderate alcohol intake, adequate sleep, and maintaining a healthy weight. These aren’t just prevention strategies. They’re the reason many people stay in the normal range well into older age, when blood pressure tends to creep upward as arteries naturally stiffen.
If your blood pressure has consistently read in this range, you’re in a strong position. No medication, no intervention, and no dietary overhaul is needed. The goal is simply to keep doing what’s working.