Normal Blood Pressure Range for a 14-Year-Old
For a 14-year-old, normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg, with the 50th percentile being approximately 118/73 mmHg for boys and 117/73 mmHg for girls. 1
Blood Pressure Categories for 14-Year-Olds
Normal Blood Pressure
- Less than 120/80 mmHg for adolescents ≥13 years of age 1
- For 14-year-old boys, the 50th percentile is approximately 118/73 mmHg 1
- For 14-year-old girls, the 50th percentile is approximately 117/73 mmHg 1
Elevated Blood Pressure
- 120 to 129 mmHg systolic AND less than 80 mmHg diastolic for adolescents ≥13 years 1
- Corresponds roughly to the 75th-90th percentile for this age group 1
Hypertension
- Stage 1: 130/80 mmHg to 139/89 mmHg (≥13 years) 1
- Stage 2: ≥140/90 mmHg (≥13 years) 1
- For 14-year-olds specifically, hypertension threshold (95th percentile) is approximately:
24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Values
The American Heart Association provides specific reference values for 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in 14-year-olds 1:
Boys (14 years)
- 24-hour average: 118/68 mmHg (50th percentile) 1
- Daytime average: 122/73 mmHg (50th percentile) 1
- Nighttime average: 106/55 mmHg (50th percentile) 1
Girls (14 years)
- 24-hour average: 117/67 mmHg (50th percentile) 1
- Daytime average: 118/73 mmHg (50th percentile) 1
- Nighttime average: 101/55 mmHg (50th percentile) 1
Important Clinical Considerations
- Blood pressure measurement should be performed using the appropriate size cuff with the child seated and relaxed 1
- A diagnosis of hypertension requires elevated readings on three separate occasions 1
- Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is recommended to confirm hypertension in children and adolescents with repeatedly elevated office BP readings 1, 2
- Blood pressure naturally increases with age throughout childhood and adolescence 1
- The 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines aligned adolescent BP thresholds (≥13 years) with adult guidelines to simplify detection and management 1
Screening Recommendations
- Blood pressure should be measured at each routine visit for adolescents 1
- Children with elevated readings should have blood pressure confirmed on three separate days before diagnosing hypertension 1
- Those with specific risk factors (obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease) should have more frequent monitoring 1, 2
Clinical Implications
- Early detection of elevated blood pressure is important as it may indicate underlying conditions or risk for future cardiovascular disease 2
- Lifestyle modifications (diet, exercise, weight management) are first-line interventions for elevated blood pressure 1
- Pharmacological treatment should be considered for confirmed hypertension that doesn't respond to lifestyle changes 1
- The goal of treatment is blood pressure <90th percentile for age, sex, and height or <130/80 mmHg in adolescents ≥13 years 1
Understanding these normal ranges helps identify children who may require further evaluation or intervention to prevent long-term cardiovascular complications.