High blood pressure (hypertension)

High blood pressure, or hypertension, rarely has noticeable symptoms. But if untreated, it increases your risk of serious problems such as heart attacks and strokes.

The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure checked.

What is high blood pressure?

Blood pressure is recorded with two numbers. The systolic pressure (higher number) is the force at which your heart pumps blood around your body.

The diastolic pressure (lower number) is the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels. They're both measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).

As a general guide:

high blood pressure is

considered to be 140/90mmHg or higher

ideal blood pressure is considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg

low blood pressure is considered to be 90/60mmHg or lower

A blood pressure reading between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg could mean you're at risk of developing high blood pressure if you don't take steps to keep your blood pressure under control.

Risks of high blood pressure

If your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs, such as the brain, kidneys and eyes.

Persistent high blood pressure can increase your risk of a number of serious and potentially life-threatening conditions, such as:

heart disease

heart attacks

strokes

heart failure

peripheral arterial disease

aortic aneurysms

kidney disease

vascular dementia

If you have high blood pressure, reducing it even a small amount can help lower your risk of these conditions.

Check your blood pressure

The only way of knowing whether you have high blood pressure is to have a blood pressure test.

All adults over 40 are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every five years. Getting this done is easy and could save your life.

You can get your blood pressure tested at a number of places, including:

at your GP surgery

at some pharmacies

in some workplaces

You can also check your blood pressure yourself with a home blood pressure monitor.

Causes of high blood pressure

It's not always clear what causes high blood pressure, but certain things can increase your risk.

You're at an increased risk of high blood pressure if you:

are over the age of 65

are overweight or obese

are of African or Caribbean descent

have a relative with high blood pressure

eat too much salt and don't eat enough fruit and vegetables

don't do enough exercise

drink too much alcohol or coffee (or other caffeine-based drinks)

­smoke

don't get much sleep or have disturbed sleep

Making healthy lifestyle changes can help reduce your chances of getting high blood pressure and help lower your blood pressure if it's already high.

Reduce your blood pressure

The following lifestyle changes can help prevent and lower high blood pressure:

reduce the amount of salt you eat and have a generally healthy diet

cut back on alcohol if you drink too much

lose weight if you're overweight

exercise regularly

cut down on caffeine

stop smoking

try to get at least six hours of sleep a night

Some people with high blood pressure may also need to take one or more medicines to stop their blood pressure getting too high.

Medicines for high blood pressure

If you're diagnosed with high blood pressure, your doctor may recommend taking one or more medicines to keep it under control.

These usually need to be taken once a day.

Common blood pressure medications include:

ACE inhibitors – such as enalapril, lisinopril, perindopril and ramipril

angiotensin-2 receptor blockers (ARBs) – such as candesartan, irbesartan, losartan, valsartan and olmesartan

calcium channel blockers – such as amlodipine, felodipine and nifedipine or diltiazem and verapamil.

diuretics – such as indapamide and bendroflumethiazide

beta-blockers – such as atenolol and bisoprolol

alpha-blockers – such as doxazosin

renin inhibitors – such as aliskiren

other diuretics – such as amiloride and spironolactone

The medication recommended for you will depend on things like how high your blood pressure is and your age.

 

High blood pressure (hypertension)

High blood pressure, or hypertension, rarely has noticeable symptoms. But if untreated, it increases your risk of serious problems such as heart attacks and strokes. The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure checked. What is high blood pressure? Blood pressure is recorded with two numbers. The systolic pressure (higher number) is the force at which your heart pumps blood around your body. The diastolic pressure (lower number) is the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels. Theyre both measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). As a general guide: high blood pressure is considered to be 140/90mmHg or higher ideal blood pressure is considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg low blood pressure is considered to be 90/60mmHg or lower A blood pressure reading between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg could mean youre at risk of developing high blood pressure if you dont take steps to keep your blood pressure under control. Risks of high blood pressure If your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs, such as the brain, kidneys and eyes. Persistent high blood pressure can increase your risk of a number of serious and potentially life-threatening conditions, such as: heart disease heart attacks strokes heart failure peripheral arterial disease aortic aneurysms kidney disease vascular dementia If you have high blood pressure, reducing it even a small amount can help lower your risk of these conditions. Check your blood pressure The only way of knowing whether you have high blood pressure is to have a blood pressure test. All adults over 40 are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every five years. Getting this done is easy and could save your life. You can get your blood pressure tested at a number of places, including: at your GP surgery at some pharmacies in some workplaces You can also check your blood pressure yourself with a home blood pressure monitor. Causes of high blood pressure Its not always clear what causes high blood pressure, but certain things can increase your risk. Youre at an increased risk of high blood pressure if you: are over the age of 65 are overweight or obese are of African or Caribbean descent have a relative with high blood pressure eat too much salt and dont eat enough fruit and vegetables dont do enough exercise drink too much alcohol or coffee (or other caffeine-based drinks) smoke dont get much sleep or have disturbed sleep Making healthy lifestyle changes can help reduce your chances of getting high blood pressure and help lower your blood pressure if its already high. Reduce your blood pressure The following lifestyle changes can help prevent and lower high blood pressure: reduce the amount of salt you eat and have a generally healthy diet cut back on alcohol if you drink too much lose weight if youre overweight exercise regularly cut down on caffeine stop smoking try to get at least six hours of sleep a night Some people with high blood pressure may also need to take one or more medicines to stop their blood pressure getting too high. Medicines for high blood pressure If youre diagnosed with high blood pressure, your doctor may recommend taking one or more medicines to keep it under control. These usually need to be taken once a day. Common blood pressure medications include: ACE inhibitors such as enalapril, lisinopril, perindopril and ramipril angiotensin-2 receptor blockers (ARBs) such as candesartan, irbesartan, losartan, valsartan and olmesartan calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine, felodipine and nifedipine or diltiazem and verapamil. diuretics such as indapamide and bendroflumethiazide beta-blockers such as atenolol and bisoprolol alpha-blockers such as doxazosin renin inhibitors such as aliskiren other diuretics such as amiloride and spironolactone The medication recommended for you will depend on things like how high your blood pressure is and your age.