How does age affect blood pressure?

• A. Blood pressure gradually rises from childhood into adulthood.
• B. It remains constant with age.
• C. It decreases with age.
• D. It fluctuates randomly with age.

Answer: (A)

As people age, arteries become stiffer and the vessels don’t expand as easily to accommodate blood flow. This arterial stiffening makes it harder for the heart to push blood through, so systolic pressure tends to rise. Vascular remodeling and other age-related changes in the cardiovascular system can increase overall resistance, contributing to higher pressures across the years. Because of these processes, blood pressure generally increases gradually from childhood into adulthood, and in later life the pattern can continue with systolic pressure rising while diastolic pressure may level off, widening the pulse pressure. The idea that blood pressure stays constant, decreases, or fluctuates randomly with age doesn’t align with these predictable vascular changes.