According to WHO, the ideal blood pressure is around 120/80 mmHg. There is talk about hypertension (literally increase of the tension in the arteries) when the systolic blood pressure exceeds 140 mmHg and / or diastolic blood pressure is above 90 mmHg. High blood pressure requires drug therapy if it remains at a high level, after repeated measurements. This also applies to the elderly. The current idea that it is normal to have high blood pressure in the elderly is incorrect.