High blood pressure Symptoms in Men are a potential threat to their overall well being. About one-third of the male population in America suffers from high BP, also called hypertension. There are several who risk developing the disorder. Around fifty percent of the adult male population has high BP.
Typically, risks increase with age. Risks of hypertension climb when one hits the age of 40. Hypertension can even be seen in young males. Existing family history or obesity makes people vulnerable to the chances of hypertension.
Needless to mention, hypertension is dangerous. Chances are you may have it without even knowing. In spite of gloomy statistics, hypertension isn’t inevitable. There is a myriad of ways to prevent or delay the condition. Also, hypertension is fairly treatable.
What is hypertension or high BP?
Blood that circulates through our veins acts under pressure. This is pretty akin to water flowing in pipes. Pressure more than usual can damage the faucets. Much the same way, high blood pressure symptoms pose health troubles. Normal Blood Pressure for men is 120/80. Anything higher than that is a tad unusual. It happens when the exerted force against walls of arteries go abnormally high. With the passage of time, problems intensify. Bulges are seen forming in the blood vessels. The heart enlarges in size and there are risks of heart failure. Blood vessel damage may even lead to kidney failure.
Hypertension, an ailment in young males
You can be just around 35 and have hypertension. This isn’t something too abnormal. Hypertension can’t be labeled as an old man’s ailment anymore. But, the sunny side is, young males are less likely to develop this. And, the disease also responds well to lifestyle changes & weight management efforts. It is for this reason that youngsters often treat this ailment at home.
But, untreated hypertension can lead to heart failure and several other life-threatening conditions. There is a reason why hypertension is often termed a “silent killer”. With treatment, one may prolong his life span. Remember, normal BP for men is 120/80. Here, 120 represents the systolic pressure. 80 would represent the diastolic pressure.
What causes high blood pressure in males?
It is not very unlikely to have developed high blood pressure symptoms. But it is important to get to the core. Know the causes to treat the condition better. Exact causes may not be known. But the things listed below are crucial. They include:
- Smoking – Smoking could be a major cause for the development of hyper blood pressure in males. Quit smoking as early as possible. This will save you from a thousand health hazards.
- Being overweight – You are likely to develop hypertension if you’re overweight. So, try not to be a couch potato all the time. Learn to manage weight issues. Keeping the weight in check lessens the chances of developing hypertension. Also, it makes the ailment more manageable.
- Lack of activities – Leading a sedentary lifestyle might make you vulnerable to hypertension. You start gaining weight unnecessarily. Count your steps. Lack of activities seems unpardonable in certain cases. So, it is better that you get rid of your old habits.
- Salty diet – Too much sodium in your diet can enhance the chances of developing hypertension. So, this comes as a word of caution. Be mindful of your sodium intake.
- Alcohol consumption – Drinking alcohol in large quantities makes young males vulnerable to the chances of developing hypertension. At least try to limit your consumption to 1-2 drinks a day.
- Stress – Needless to mention, there is a rat-race set outside. People often succumb to the rat-race. With cut-throat competition, comes unmanageable stress. One must learn to manage stress so as to keep problems at bay. Stress-managing techniques can even be learned at home.
- Old-age – The risks of developing high blood pressure symptoms seem to enhance with age. The role of caregivers is important in this case. Be watchful of the symptoms. A bit of care can change the scenario altogether.
- Genetics – An existing family history can be the reason of developing hypertension. If you have parents or siblings at home with high BP, you need to visit the doctor for an urgent check-up.
- Chronic renal disease – Improper functioning of the kidney could be a cause of high BP. The condition can still be managed if chronic renal disease is diagnosed early.
- Thyroid disorder – Get your thyroid functioning checked to avoid other unwanted problems. History has it that people with thyroid disorders are likely to develop hypertension.
- Insomnia – It is fairly important to sleep well. If you are suffering from insomnia, chances are you may have developed high blood pressure.
Age & race play crucial roles. African-Americans have high chances of developing high blood pressure symptoms. Although it is not known why certain races are more vulnerable to the disease, trends suggest the vulnerability in Africans and African- Americans.
Symptoms of high blood pressure
The most dangerous aspect of hypertension is that you might not be aware that you have it. Even young males have the likelihood of developing hypertension. Hypertension isn’t age-specific. Only regular check-ups can be a way how you can manage the condition. To be in the best of health, one must know the signs and symptoms of high blood pressure. The symptoms include:
Severe headache
An unexplained headache is a very potential symptom of hypertension. If you’re having problems with chronic headaches, get yourself checked by an expert physician.
Fatigue
Feeling fatigued all the time isn’t usual. We can by no means create a rose-tinted picture in this case. Fatigue is one of those first signs of high blood pressure.
Blurred vision
Hypertension often causes a stir in vision. So, if you have problems with eyesight, you must visit your physician to know more about the problem. You may also have a hard time balancing yourself owing to blurred vision. These are high blood pressure symptoms that should not be ignored at any cost.
Chest pain
Feeling uncanny or unexplained chest pain could be a sign of high blood pressure. Do not ponder too much. This is just the right time to go meet an expert medical practitioner.
Difficulty breathing
Shortness of breath is amongst the very first signs of hypertension. Acute shortness of breath must not be taken lightly. In severe cases, it may even claim a life. Talk to a medical expert in case you get rampant difficulties in breathing.
Irregular beats
Irregular beats are potential symptoms of high blood pressure. Sometimes the heart seems to beat too fast even when you’re at rest. Some other times, it could beat slower than average. These signs must be reported to the doctor. Any delay can cause you much harm.
Blood-tinted urine
Urine tinted with blood patches isn’t at all desirable. Chances are, you have developed hypertension. If you’re a male above the age of 35, you must report these signs to your physician. An early detection makes hypertension manageable are more treatable.
Thrust on the chest
An unexplained thrust on the walls of your chest is a sign of high blood pressure. In certain cases, one may even develop severe pain in the ears and neck.
So, now that we’re aware of the first high blood pressure symptoms in males, we must take concrete measures to combat the condition. Hypertension crisis must be taken care of immediately. It is because this crisis can very well lead to a stroke or heart attack. The first signs, if diagnosed, must be attended to. Untreated hypertension may lead to a chain of problems. Blindness, kidney failures are problems related to high BP symptoms in men.
Diagnosis
Measuring BP isn’t hard at all. All you need is a clinic that is well-equipped with inflated arm cuffs. One such cuff would be put around your arm to gauge the blood pressure.
Blood pressure measurement falls into 4 major categories. They are –
Normal BP
You have a very normal BP if the reading is something around 120/80 millimeters of Hg (mercury).
Elevated BP
Elevated BP means you have systolic pressure that is higher than usual. The systolic pressure may range anything between 120-130 millimeters of Hg (mercury). In this case, the diastolic pressure remains under control. Things tend to worsen if proper measures are not taken on time.
Stage-1 hypertension
In this case, the systolic pressure ranges between 130 and 139 millimeters of Hg and the diastolic pressure ranges between 80 and 90 millimeters of Hg.
Stage-2 hypertension
This is where you need to be mindful. Reaching this stage is not at all desirable. Here, the severity is maximum. The systolic pressure goes up to 140 millimeters of Hg or even higher. And, the diastolic pressure goes up to 90 millimeters of Hg or even higher. This is where you need to take concrete steps without any further delay.
Both systolic and diastolic readings are important. The arm cuff that you use should be of appropriate measurement.
Additionally, the doctor might request you to get the readings recorded at home to confirm the findings.
Also, he would recommend certain routine tests like – urine analysis, cholesterol tests, and electrocardiograms. Electrocardiograms are performed to gauge the heart’s electrical activities. All these measures would ensure a prolonged life span. These measures would shield your heart against fatal disorders.
Medications
Thiazide diuretics – More commonly known as water pills, these medications act on the kidneys. They eliminate excess water and sodium from our bodies. This thus helps in the reduction of blood- volume.
ACE inhibitors – These help the blood vessels to relax. These inhibit the formation of chemicals that narrow blood vessel. People dealing with kidney ailments might find relief in this medicine.
Calcium-channel blockers – These help to relax the muscle of the heart. They effectively lower the heart-rate. Talk to your physician to know how the medication actually works.
Resistant hypertension
If BP remains very stubborn despite the intake of medication, there are chances that you’ve developed resistant hypertension.
Also, the possibilities of secondary causes must not be ignored. But, resistant hypertension does not imply that the condition is not manageable. You need to diagnose the reason behind developing this disorder.
Talk to a doctor who can evaluate the underlying causes, to say the least.
- Review the prescribed medications so that the ailment does not worsen
- Monitor the BP regularly, if need be
- Suggest lifestyle changes at the right time
- Suggest effective remedies combined with a healthy diet
Certain experimental therapies also might help. And, make sure that you take medicines as prescribed. Never try to alter the dosage on your own. Doing so, you would invite unnecessary problems that can have a long-standing impact. Do not change treatment conditions abruptly. Try your best to communicate even trivial issues to your physician. Also, do not skip medicines. This is the worst thing to do at this juncture.
What other ailments can a high BP lead to?
Persistent high BP can damage blood vessels. It may cause cholesterols to accumulate in the arteries. High blood pressure symptoms put a thrust on the circulatory mechanism. So, in a way, it decreases the efficacy of our circulatory system.
Protection is the best way how you can shield your heart. Make sure –
- You know the reading
- Understand the signs
- Make necessary lifestyle changes
Home remedies to lower blood pressure
Count your steps
Exercise will make you a stronger individual both physically and emotionally. It makes blood pumping more efficient. This, in turn, lowers pressure on the artery walls.
Even 30 minutes of moderate activities will boost stamina at large.
Eat potassium-rich food
Shift your focus from processed food to natural sources to maintain a good sodium-potassium balance of the body. Some natural sources of potassium are –
Tomatoes and green leafy vegetables
Banana
Melons
Dairy products
Salmon
Tuna
Seeds & nuts
Beans and rajma
Include these in your diet chart to keep the heart-healthy. Foods that are potassium-rich lower the BP level naturally.
Cut down on caffeine
Coffee lovers must pay attention to it. Increased caffeine intake may take a toll on your heart health. So, be sure to restrict your cup.
Consume dark chocolate
Do not increase your chocolate intake massively. But, dark chocolates have flavonoids. This may lower BP significantly. So, a little amount of dark chocolate can do you good.
Final thoughts
Take a deep breath whenever possible. This helps to mitigate stress. Learn the art of meditating. Consume calcium-rich foods like cottage cheese and tofu.
These are things that men can do to keep high blood pressure symptoms in check. All these measures can help you greatly. Put your health first. Because other things can wait.
