Blood pressure is one of the most commonly used parameters to assess the health status of individuals. An abnormal blood pressure reading almost always suggests the most probable disorder that a person may be having.
By definition, blood pressure is the amount of pressure exerted by the flowing blood against blood vessel walls. The upper gradient of blood pressure measurement is called the Systolic Blood Pressure and the lower gradient is called the Diastolic Blood Pressure.
The standard unit for measurement of blood pressure is mm of Hg. The device used to check blood pressure is called a Sphygmomanometer.
Normal Blood Pressure Values For Adults
Blood pressure varies from person to person and it can also vary at different times in the same person. This variability can sometimes occur due to fault in the blood pressure apparatus or an error in checking the blood pressure.
| Blood pressure category | Systolic (mm of Hg) | Dystolic (mm of Hg) |
| Low blood pressure | Less than 90 | Less than 60 |
| Normal blood pressure | 90 – 120 | 60 – 80 |
| Pre-hypertension | 120 – 139 | 80 – 90 |
| Stage-I Hypertension | 140 – 159 | 90 – 99 |
| Stage-II Hypertension | 160 or more | 100 or more |
| Hypertension crisis | 180 or more | 110 or more |
Factors Which Influence Blood Pressure Values
- Age – A study conducted proved that systolic blood pressure showed an increase with age in both males and females.
- Sex – There is little evidence that suggests a disparity between high blood pressure among females and males. Men, however, have higher blood pressure values during adolescence and early adult life. Females, on the other hand, showed an increase in blood pressure after menopause. Possibly owing to the protective effect of estrogen.
- Ethnicity – Studies have recorded higher blood pressure values in the black community as compared to the others.
- Family History – Children ofnormotensivee patients have a 3% possibility of developing hypertension later in their life in contrast to 45% in children whose parents are hypertensive.
- High Salt Intake – A daily salt intake of about 7-8 grams increases blood pressure proportionately. Lowering intake of salt normalizes blood pressure. This is the reason hypertensive patients are advised a salt-restricted diet.
- Lifestyle and Diet – Consumption of food rich in fatty acids raise blood pressure. Similarly, dietary fiber helps in reducing blood pressure.
- Physical inactivity – This has a direct relationship with high blood pressure.
- Obesity – Being overweight has a positive relation with diabetes, hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases
- Alcohol Consumption – High alcohol intake is associated with a high risk of having hypertension and abstinence results in normalized blood pressure values.
- Environmental Stress – Studies on young individuals reveal significantly higher nor-adrenaline levels in hypertensive persons. This suggests over-activity of the sympathetic nervous system is associated with a higher risk for developing hypertension.
- Co-morbidities – diabetes and renal disorders have a positive correlation with high blood pressure.
- Other Factors responsible for high blood pressure values are oral contraceptive pills, emotions, meals, exercise drugs and medications, humidity, vibration and noise.
(Read: Foods Not To Eat For High Blood Pressure)
Normal Blood Pressure For Men Over 50 Years of Age
| Age group | Normal Range For Systolic Blood Pressure (mm of Hg) | Normal Range For Diastolic Blood Pressure (mm of Hg) |
| 50 – 54 years | 116 – 142 | 81 – 89 |
| 55 – 59 years | 118 – 144 | 82 – 90 |
| 60 – 64 years | 121 – 147 | 83 – 91 |
| 65 – 69 years | 139 – 151 | 71 – 80 |
| 70 – 74 years | 137 – 160 | 73 – 83 |
| 75 – 79 years | 154 – 166 | 80 – 87 |
| Over 80 years | 147 – 162 | 60 – 90 |
This table above shows ranges for normal blood pressure for men over 50 years of age. It is clear from the table that blood pressure rises after the age of 60 years and peaks at about 75-89 years and gradually reduces thereafter.
A lot of debates have surfaced in recent times regarding considering treatment of hypertension in men over 80 years of age. An index of blood pressure in men over 80 years of 150/90 mm of Hg or more was presumed to be liable for treatment.
(Read: How To Understand Blood Pressure Readings)
What To Do If Your Blood Pressure Is Higher Than Normal?
Although it is difficult to modify certain influencing factors like family history, ethnicity, increasing age, gender and other co-morbidities. It is always possible to take certain steps to keep up a healthy lifestyle which will in turn maintain regular blood pressure levels.
The Following Measures Can Be Taken To Manage And Prevent High Blood Pressure
- Reduce salt in the diet
- Curb smoking and alcohol consumption
- Curb consumption of food and drinks having caffeine content
- Limit intake of oily, fried food and processed food.
- Eat Fresh Fruits and Vegetables – Fresh fruits contain anti-oxidants which help to clear out free radicals from blood and prevent atherosclerosis. Most of the fruits are a rich source of potassium which helps in normalizing blood pressure.
- Make Good Use of Kitchen Herbs
● Garlic – Soak cloves of garlic overnight and have it on empty stomach in morning. It contains selenium which helps to maintain an optimal level of blood pressure. Garlic increases nitric acid production causing vasodilatation and reduces blood pressure.
● Ginger – This is known to have a relaxing effect upon blood vessels.
● Celery – This herb acts upon the liver. Celery juice mixed with honey has documented results in reducing both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
● Ajwain – This commonly seen plant in households has an anesthetic effect. Leaves of this plant normalize blood pressure briefly.
● Flax Seed – This substance is rich in omega-3 fatty acids which has a proven effect against atherosclerotic conditions of heart and hypertension.
● Basil – Eugenol content of this herb has a significant action in reducing blood pressure but only for a short duration.
● Sesame – Sesame oil is known to have an anti-hypertensive effect. It is a natural anti-oxidant herb. - Moderate physical exercise for at least 30 minutes every day helps to control weight.
- Manage stress by meditation or other means like music, yoga, psychotherapy or counselling
- Regularize Sleep Timings – According to a study, people who sleep for 7-9 hours daily were more active and had better memory and concentration than those who sleep for less than 7 hours.
- If you are on blood pressure medications, do not skip or stop medications without prior consultation.
To achieve a normal blood pressure in men over 50 years, some form of mild sedative medicine may also be used. - Apart from lifestyle changes and dietary alterations, it is also important to check and keep a record of your blood pressure readings.
High blood pressure accelerates the processes of atherosclerosis within blood vessels. High blood pressure is often an indicator of major disorders – stroke, ischemic heart disease, coronary artery diseases and renal disorders to summarize.
Hypertension has emerged to become one of the most commonly occurring lifestyle disorders. High blood pressure is associated with potential disease outcomes. A surprising estimate of 7.1 million deaths and 64.3million disabilities occur annually worldwide due to non-optimal blood pressure.
Statistics also reveal that hypertension is a major contributing factor in deaths due to cardiovascular diseases. This is the reason to have a normal blood pressure in men over 50 years. High blood pressure must be considered a serious defect in the economy and appropriate consultation should be sought for the same.
Medically Reviewed By
Dr. Himanshi is a Homoeopathic consultant and currently working as a lecturer in Post-graduate faculty of Homeopathy, Parul University, Vadodara. Completed BHMS and MD in Homeopathy in January 2018 and also has a clinical experience of about 6 years. Personal interests include reading, spending time with family and traveling.
