Blood Pressure 118/79 with Pulse 73: Normal Status
Your blood pressure of 118/79 mmHg with a pulse of 73 bpm is completely normal and optimal. This reading falls well within the healthy range and requires no intervention.
Blood Pressure Classification
Your reading of 118/79 mmHg is classified as "optimal" blood pressure according to the European Society of Hypertension/European Society of Cardiology guidelines, which define optimal BP as <120/<80 mmHg 1.
The 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines would classify this as "normal" blood pressure, as it falls below their threshold of 120-129 systolic (which they term "elevated") 1.
Both your systolic (118 mmHg) and diastolic (79 mmHg) values are in the ideal range, indicating excellent cardiovascular health from a blood pressure perspective 1.
Clinical Significance
Blood pressure at this level is associated with the lowest cardiovascular risk 1. The continuous relationship between BP and cardiovascular risk begins at 115/75 mmHg, and your reading is just slightly above this threshold with minimal added risk 1.
Your pulse rate of 73 beats per minute is within the normal resting heart rate range (typically 60-100 bpm for adults) and indicates normal cardiac function.
This BP level requires no treatment and represents the target that hypertensive patients aim to achieve 1.
What This Means for You
No medical intervention is needed - neither lifestyle modifications nor pharmacological treatment is indicated at this blood pressure level 1.
Continue routine health maintenance with standard blood pressure monitoring at annual check-ups or as recommended by your healthcare provider 1.
Maintain current lifestyle habits that are contributing to this healthy blood pressure, including balanced diet, regular physical activity, healthy weight, limited alcohol intake, and no smoking 1.
Important Context
If you were being treated for hypertension and achieved this reading, this would represent excellent blood pressure control, as treatment goals typically target <130/80 mmHg or <140/90 mmHg depending on individual risk factors 1.
This reading is significantly better than the "prehypertension" category (120-139/80-89 mmHg), which carries increased risk of developing hypertension over time 1.