Normal Blood Pressure for Men

You probably often hear that 120 over 80 is the "sweet spot" for blood pressure, but the normal blood pressure for men can vary. As an adult male, your age actually plays a role in your blood pressure, as do other factors. Knowing what numbers are healthy is critical to your overall health. Even if your blood pressure is slightly elevated, this could eventually lead to problems down the road.

Age Ranges

To demonstrate how much the average blood pressure reading can vary among age ranges, let's look at the difference between what is average for men ages 20 to 24 and men ages 60 to 64. For men ages 20 to 24, the average reading is 117 over 77, and for men ages 60 to 64, the average reading is 134 over 87. As you can see, the normal blood pressure for men does rise slightly as they age.

Demographics Affecting Blood Pressure

Men under the age of 55 have a higher chance of experiencing high blood pressure than women. When looking at different races and cultures, African American men have the greatest risk of experiencing high blood pressure.

Controllable Factors Leading to High Blood Pressure

Men who are overweight have a greater chance of developing this issue over men who maintain a healthy weight. Men who have conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol - especially when these are not well-controlled - are at a greater risk of hypertension. If you smoke any form of tobacco, you increase your risk of developing high blood pressure. Alcohol can also play a role if you have more than two drinks each day. Other controllable factors include things like a high saturated fat diet and a sedentary lifestyle.

Factors Outside of Your Control

In some cases, high blood pressure will stem from something you have little to no control over. Having a family history of the condition is one of these factors. If you have a medical condition in which high blood pressure is a known symptom or complication, you may not be able to control whether or not you develop it. With such factors, avoiding the controllable factors can be beneficial to you in many cases. Your health care provider can also help you keep a handle on your blood pressure, and if it does get high, he or she can help you to maintain it.
Reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Monti, MD, MPH