Normal Blood Pressure Reading for Men

Blood pressure is an important fixture of health diagnosis for men as they get older. If levels are high, a number of health risks can show up, so it is important to know what a normal blood pressure reading is and how to work to maintain low blood pressure through exercise and diet.

What Is Blood Pressure?

• Blood pressure is the pressure of the circulating blood against the walls of the arteries, the veins and the chambers of the heart. Blood pressure results from two forces: one created by the heart as it pumps blood into the arteries through the circulatory system, and the force of the arteries as they resist the blood flow.

Normal Levels

• For a long time, normal blood pressure was defined as 120/80 (systolic/diastolic). In 2006, the American Heart Association (AHA) changed the definition of normal blood pressure to less than 120/less than 80, and this standard is used globally.

History

• Ongoing research examining the long-term health effects of different blood pressures caused the AHA guidelines to change. This research clearly shows the risk of heart attack and other illness as the blood pressure rises in adults, primarily males over the age of 50 (see Resources).

Prevention/Solution

• Get your blood pressure checked regularly at the doctor's office, or check it yourself at one of the many handy machines available at grocery stores and malls free of charge. Blood pressure monitors are easy to use.

Lower it Down

• If your blood pressure is high or remains high for a period of time, it can lead to serious problems like a heart attack, stroke, heart failure or kidney disease. Talk to a doctor immediately about a health care regimen that involves healthy eating and exercise. A little exercise and the right foods will go a long way in reversing blood pressure levels.

Signs/Symptoms

• You are more likely to have a high blood pressure if you are overweight,
  smoke, have diabetes, high cholesterol, a family history, or belong to certain ethnic groups.