Normal isn't average and average isn't necessarily normal. And when it comes to health risks, such things are not so clear-cut anyway.

When you have your blood pressure checked - either by a doctor, your gym instructor or a machine at the supermarket - you will get two numbers. These represent the extreme fluctuations of pressure your cardiovascular system produces. The high end is systolic pressure, the bottom end diastolic. High blood pressure, or hypertension, represents a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Higher blood pressures are associated with obesity, inactivity, increasing age, certain ethnic groups, salt intake and diet.