Which reading is within the normal reference range for a healthy young adult?

• A. 130/85
• B. 140/90
• C. 118/78
• D. 105/70

Answer: (C)

Understanding blood pressure readings is about two numbers: systolic over diastolic. For a healthy young adult at rest, normal is typically around 120/80 or lower, with both values under these thresholds. The reading 118/78 fits this well because the systolic 118 is under 120 and the diastolic 78 is under 80, placing it squarely in the normal range.

The other readings show values outside that normal band: 130/85 exceeds the typical normal limits, indicating elevated or higher BP; 140/90 is clearly in the hypertension range; and 105/70 is lower on the scale and could be considered low-normal, but it doesn’t illustrate the standard resting normal as clearly as 118/78 does.