High blood pressure is a common medical condition where the pressure inside your arteries is higher than it should be. If you have high blood pressure, you probably won’t get any symptoms. But you’re more likely to get a serious problem such as heart disease, a stroke or kidney disease.
Every time your heart beats, it pumps blood under pressure to the rest of your body through your arteries. You need some pressure to keep your blood moving. But if it’s always too high, it puts extra strain on your heart and blood vessels. Other parts of your body, such as your brain and your kidneys may also be affected by high blood pressure.
The medical name for high blood pressure is hypertension.
Sometimes high blood pressure is caused by another health problem you already have. But most of the time there’s no obvious cause. For more information, see our section on causes.
Blood pressure is measured at two points.
Your blood pressure is shown as two numbers, measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). A reading of around 120/80mmHg is seen as healthy – above 140/90mmHg is considered high.
Most people with high blood pressure don’t have any symptoms and aren’t aware of their condition. It’s usually found when you have your blood pressure measured. This may be as part of a health assessment.
If you have high blood pressure and it causes complications, you may get symptoms linked to those. For more information, see our section on complications.
The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have it measured. It’s good to get your blood pressure checked at least every five years. You may be able to get this done at your local pharmacy. Everyone should know their blood pressure.
The latest automated, digital devices make it quick and easy to check your blood pressure. Or your doctor might take a reading using a stethoscope held against your arm to listen to the blood flow. Try to relax – it may be a little uncomfortable but that’s only for a few moments.
Your doctor or nurse will probably check your blood pressure several times during a visit. If your blood pressure is high, they may recommend you have more readings over a longer period. This helps to make a definite diagnosis. There are two ways to do this.
You can buy your own device for measuring your blood pressure at home.
If you have high blood pressure, your doctor will want to find out if there’s a reason for this. They’ll also want to see if it has done any harm, especially to your heart or kidneys.
Your doctor will ask about your general health, any symptoms you have and any medicines you take. They may ask about your family’s medical history. They may also ask about your weight, your diet, whether or not you smoke, and your exercise and drinking habits. They may examine you.
You may be offered further tests, including the following.
If your blood pressure is very high (over 180/110mmHg) or your doctor suspects it’s caused by a serious condition, they may refer you to a specialist. They may also refer you to a specialist if you have high blood pressure and you’re under 40. Your specialist may recommend further tests. If so, they’ll explain what these involve.
For most people with high blood pressure, there’s no obvious cause. This is called primary hypertension or essential hypertension. Some things increase your risk of getting this type of high blood pressure. These include:
There are several things your doctor will consider in deciding how best to treat you. These include:
Your doctor will encourage you to make lifestyle changes to help reduce your blood pressure. These include the following.
Stress can make your blood pressure go up, so learn how to manage stress.'
Stopping smoking may not have a direct impact on your blood pressure, but it reduces the risk of complications like heart disease and stroke.
There are several medicines that can lower your blood pressure. Your GP may start you on a combination of two medicines. It can take time to find the medicines that work for you.
The medicines most commonly used to treat high blood pressure are listed here.
If these aren’t suitable for you or if they don’t work well enough, your doctor may prescribe other medicines to treat your high blood pressure. For instance, sometimes beta-blockers may be suitable. However, these are no longer one of the main treatments for high blood pressure.
Always carefully read the information that comes with your medicines. If you have any questions about taking them, ask your doctor .
Your doctor may suggest you regularly monitor your blood pressure at home as part of your treatment.
Although having high blood pressure does not usually cause any symptoms, it does increase your risk of getting complications. These include:
These problems usually take many years to develop. With medicines and lifestyle changes, you can reduce the risk of them ever happening.
High blood pressure is a particular issue if you have diabetes. Both hypertension and diabetes increase the risk of kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. If you have diabetes, you should get your blood pressure measured at least once a year.
If you’re pregnant, you’ll have your blood pressure checked regularly. Having high blood pressure during pregnancy may cause problems for you and your baby. It may be a sign of a condition called pre-eclampsia.
If you’re on medicines for high blood pressure and you get pregnant, your doctor may suggest changing your medicines.
Most people with high blood pressure don’t have any symptoms. So, you may not realise that your blood pressure is high. The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have it checked. It’s a good idea to have your blood pressure checked at least every five years.
If you have high blood pressure, your doctor can prescribe medicines to control it. But there’s a lot you can do yourself too. This includes losing weight, being more active, drinking less alcohol and eating a healthy diet. For more information, see our section on treatment.
You wear a small digital machine on a belt round your waist and an inflatable cuff on your upper arm for 24 hours. Your blood pressure will be measured every hour or so, including overnight. You should carry on your normal activities, but you’ll need to avoid getting the equipment wet. Your nurse or doctor will explain what the test involves and will be able to answer any questions you have about it.
There are several medicines that can lower blood pressure. Your doctor will offer you those most likely to be the best for you in your particular circumstances. There are national guidelines to help them make this decision. If your medicine doesn’t lower your blood pressure enough or you’re getting side-effects, your doctor may suggest making a change. This may be changing the dose, adding another medicine or trying a different combination of medicines.
People sometimes wonder what a dangerously high blood pressure would be. Having high blood pressure increases your chance of serious health conditions such as heart attack, stroke and kidney disease. So, in a sense, all high blood pressure could be said to be dangerous. However, if by ‘dangerously high’ we mean something which needs immediate treatment, this would be a blood pressure of 180/110mmHg or above. If your blood pressure is this high, your doctor will probably refer you to a specialist immediately.
People sometimes wonder what a dangerously high blood pressure would be. Having high blood pressure increases your chance of serious health conditions such as heart attack, stroke and kidney disease. So, in a sense, all high blood pressure could be said to be dangerous. However, if by ‘dangerously high’ we mean something which needs immediate treatment, this would be a blood pressure of 180/110mmHg or above. If your blood pressure is this high, your doctor will probably refer you to a specialist immediately.
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