Which of the following is a normal blood pressure for a 12-year-old?

• A. 110/65 mm Hg
• B. 90/60 mm Hg
• C. 120/80 mm Hg
• D. 140/90 mm Hg

Answer: (A)

Normal blood pressure in children is interpreted using percentile charts that take age, sex, and height into account. For a 12-year-old of average height, resting systolic values around 105–120 mm Hg and diastolic values around 60–75 mm Hg are typical. A reading of 110/65 mm Hg fits squarely inside that normal range, making it the best choice. The other options either sit lower than what’s typical for most preteens (90/60) or are higher enough to raise concern for elevated blood pressure (120/80) or even hypertension (140/90) in a healthy child, depending on height and the exact percentile.