Ace the NLN PAX 2026 – Rock Your Nursing Dreams with Confidence!

A normal blood pressure value for a resting adult patient is widely recognized as approximately 120/80 mm Hg. This measurement represents the systolic pressure (the top number) at which blood is pumped from the heart, and the diastolic pressure (the bottom number) at which the heart rests between beats. These values are established guidelines used in clinical practice to assess cardiovascular health.

Blood pressure readings are classified into different categories, and a reading of 120/80 mm Hg is considered optimal, with any significant deviation from this standard potentially indicating hypertension (high blood pressure) or hypotension (low blood pressure). The importance of these numbers lies in their predictive value for cardiovascular risk; maintaining blood pressure within this normal range is associated with a lower risk of heart disease and stroke.

The other options presented reflect either elevated or low blood pressure readings. Values like 125/95 mm Hg indicate prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension, while readings such as 100/80 mm Hg could be on the lower end of healthy values depending on individual circumstances. The reading of 72/120 mm Hg is an inversion of the typical systolic and diastolic values and does not represent a medically valid blood pressure reading.