Blood pressure is a term that describes the force placed on your arteries when blood passes through them. Measurements of this force include systolic pressure readings --- taken while your heart beats --- and diastolic pressure readings, taken between heart beats. Ideal blood pressure readings for a 48-year-old male must have both systolic and diastolic readings that fall below a certain level.
Ideal Readings
Blood pressure standards are essentially the same for all men and women age 18 or older, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Factors that help determine this pressure include both the amount and force of the blood pumped by your heart, as well as the flexibility and size of your arteries. A blood pressure reading displays your systolic pressure first, followed by your diastolic pressure. Ideally, you will have a systolic pressure that falls below 120 millimeters of mercury, or mmHg. Ideal diastolic pressure falls below 80mmHg.
High and Low Pressure
If your blood pressure falls above the ideal range, you can develop a condition called hypertension, or high blood pressure. The presence of hypertension significantly increases your risks for a number of serious ailments, including heart failure, stroke, kidney failure and coronary artery disease. If you have a blood pressure of 90/60mmHg or lower, you have a condition called low blood pressure. Many people experience low blood pressure without any symptoms or problems, MedlinePlus notes. Potential consequences of the condition include fainting, dizziness and a life-threatening condition called shock.
Levels of Risk
If your systolic pressure ranges from 120 to 129mmHg or your diastolic pressure ranges from 80 to 89mmHg, you have a serious risk factor for high blood pressure called prehypertension. If your systolic pressure ranges from 140 to 159mmHg or your diastolic pressure ranges from 90 to 99mmHg, you have a condition called Stage 1 hypertension. If your systolic pressure reaches 160 or higher or your diastolic pressure reaches 100 or higher, you have a condition called Stage 2 hypertension. Each level of increase in your blood pressure, from prehypertension to Stage 2 hypertension, heightens your risks for the development of hypertension-related ailments.
Considerations
Your blood pressure normally varies throughout the day as a result of factors that include your posture, level of physical activity, emotional state, use of medications and diet, as well as the temperature of your surrounding environment. If you exhibit abnormally high or low blood pressure during testing, your health care provider will typically perform two or three additional tests at five-minute intervals to confirm this abnormal reading. If you have normal blood pressure, get it rechecked every two years. If you have prehypertension or hypertension, get it rechecked a minimum of once a year.
