In a high stress world, it is important to know the normal blood pressure for men. Maintaining the optimal bp will help you prevent diseases such as hypotension and hypertension.
These readings are a significant indicator of health for male as they get older. If the pressure is high, several health risks can develop, most specially cardiovascular and cerebral diseases. Most of the factors that cause an increase in the normal BP are modifiable. In other words, a healthy lifestyle for men is the key to a healthy BP.
Previously, the average BP was considered to be 120/80 mmHg. However, the American Heart Association in 2012 revised the range of average bp to less than 120/80 mmHg but not below 90/60, as this indicates hypotension.
Males over the age of 45 usually have higher risks of developing heart attacks and stroke. It is important that men control their blood pressure readings during early adulthood to prevent health risks as they age and maintain a normal BP.
A rise in these readings usually occurs when the BP increases to 120/90 mmHg or higher. Since male engage in more vigorous activities, they usually mistake the signs and symptoms of hypertension to be effects of fatigue or being tired.
In addition, men are considered to have higher BP than women because they lack female hormones such as estrogen and progesterone that regulate the BP levels.
Men have both modifiable and non modifiable risk factors for developing hypertension. Non modifiable factors include age, race, and family history. On the other hand, modifiable risk factors include diet, lifestyle and activities. Among the three, lifestyle has significantly resulted in hypertension in men since smoking and alcoholic beverage drinking cause the BP readings to increase.
Smoking affects the normal blood pressure for men readings. It contains nicotine which is a potent vasoconstrictor. Once the blood vessels are constricted, BP increases. Smoking is considered to be a significant risk factor for developing hypertension, so when a man stops smoking, the risk may go down.
According to AlcoholRehabMN.com, drinking alcohol also causes the BP to increase. This is because alcohol metabolism produces a byproduct that enhances the storage of fats that eventually cause atherosclerosis.
Also, dietary intake of high sodium foods affects the normal BP in men because sodium promotes water retention, thereby increasing the circulating blood volume and further leading to increased hypertension. Men, most often than not, consume higher amounts of sodium rich foods than women, which predispose them to hypertension.
Hypertension is usually asymptomatic, so male generally consider themselves to have an average BP before signs and symptoms appear. During this stage, hypertension already has affected the entire body system and resulted in the occurrence of clinical manifestations such as nape pain, occipital headache, dizziness, nausea and sometimes syncope (fainting).
Regular BP monitoring is essential to maintain good blood pressure and normal pulse rate for men. Also, smoking cessation and drinking alcohol beverages moderately has largely contributed to a return to normal blood pressure for men.
