Maintaining healthy blood pressure is one of the easiest and most effective ways for men to reduce their risk for heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, more than 73 million adults over the age of 20 have high blood pressure. When taking blood pressure, there are a number of factors to keep in mind before diagnosing someone as hypertensive. These include posture, state of emotion, temperature, pain, exercise, meals and alcohol and tobacco consumption.
What is Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is the amount of pressure exerted by the blood against the inside of the arterial walls. Each time the heart squeezes blood from the left ventricle, the pressure produced in millimeters of Mercury (mmHg) is called the systolic blood pressure. Often written as two numbers separated by a slash, the systolic blood pressure is the first number. For instance 120/80 is often state as "120 over 80." The second number is the diastolic blood pressure and represents the amount of pressure exerted by the arterial walls as they relax in between heart beats. Both numbers are important and can be predictors of heart disease or other serious problems.
Normal Blood Pressure Range
Under normal circumstances, blood pressures rise and fall throughout the day depending on posture, activity, diseases and a number of other factors. In the healthy man at rest, blood pressure should not exceed 120/80 mmHg. It is possible, however, to have higher transient readings--especially when visiting a doctor. A documented condition called, "White Coat Hypertension," can result in blood pressure readings that are over 30 mmHg higher in men who otherwise have normal blood pressure. This is largely due to the anxiety associated with being in clinical settings and typically resolves itself after returning home.
Postural Effects
Blood pressure is the result of a fluid (blood) as it moves through conduits (arteries and veins) in the body. For this reason, blood pressure is greatly affected by gravity and posture. Most diagnostic blood pressure readings are taken in a relaxed, sitting position. If the patient is lying down, there is less resistance by gravity to circulate blood throughout the body, so blood pressure readings can be lower than sitting.
Exercising Blood Pressure
In healthy men, systolic blood pressure increases predictably as exercise intensity increases, while diastolic blood pressure decreases. During recovery from exercise, it is normal for either the systolic or diastolic blood pressures to fall as blood pools in the extremities. If blood pressure responses other than these occur, it could suggest underlying disease and warrant seeking immediate medical attention.
