Figure 1. Arm cuff attached to Blood Pressure (BP) monitor for measuring BP.
Table of Contents
Overview
For a young person at rest, the ideal blood pressure measurement is usually 120/80 mm Hg. However, this value increases with age. A person suffers from high blood pressure (or hypertension) when their blood pressure reading is above 140/90 mm Hg.
A lot of people do not realise they have high blood pressure and the higher the value, the greater the health risk. This is the reason why high blood pressure is a silent killer.
In England about 1 in 3 men and 1 in 4 women have high blood pressure and about a half of these go untreated.
High blood pressure is usually associated with stress, anxiety, smoking, high table (sodium) salt intake, excessive drinking, a lack of regular exercise and sedentary lifestyle. Other contributing factors include obesity, genetics, use of birth control pills or pain relievers, kidney disease, and adrenal disease.
Usually, high blood pressure does not show noticeable symptoms. In some cases, it may cause headaches, shortness of breath or nosebleeds, but these symptoms occur when the blood pressure measurements are extremely high.
If ignored, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease or stroke. The way to identify it is by regularly taking your blood pressure measurements yourself with an electronic blood pressure monitor at home. If you find the levels are too high, start taking steps to control it.
If your readings are well above 120/80 and tending towards 140/90 mmHg or more consistently at rest, then see your General Practitioner (GP) for a diagnosis. Your Doctor may prescribe medications, which you must take as directed to control high blood pressure.
Symptoms
The symptoms are rarely noticeable, but these could include headaches, shortness of breath or nosebleeds, which can occur when the blood pressure measurements are extremely high.
Causes
The exact cause for high blood pressure is not always known, but it can be associated with stress, anxiety, smoking, high table (sodium) salt intake and not eating enough fruits and vegetables, excessive drinking of alcohol and caffeine-based drinks (tea, coffee, etc) a lack of regular exercise, sedentary lifestyle, lack of sleep and living in a deprived area. Other contributory factors include obesity, genetics, use of birth control pills or pain relievers, kidney disease, and adrenal disease.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Around 28% of adults in England have high blood pressure and most are not receiving effective treatment.
Take several blood pressure measurements periodically and note them in a diary to keep a record. If your average readings are well above 120/80 and tending towards 140/90 mmHg or more consistently at rest, then see your General Practitioner (GP) for a diagnosis.
NB The higher number is systolic pressure, that is the force with which your heart pumps blood around the body. The lower number is diastolic pressure, that is the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels.
If you find the levels are high, start taking some steps by changing your lifestyle to control it. Consult your Doctor, who may prescribe medications, which you must take as directed to control it.
Figure 2. Doctors use Sphygmomanometer and stethoscope to check BP
A single blood pressure lowering medication does not always work and additional medicines are added in a stepwise manner until control is achieved. Various medicines can be used to control blood pressure, but what works best is different for each person and so the Doctor will see what will suit you as an individual, considering how high your blood pressure is, age and ethnicity.
Complications
If blood pressure is not controlled to a value tending towards about 120/80mm Hg, then there is a risk of various cardiovascular diseases/conditions (such as heart attack), stroke, kidney disease and vascular dementia.
Patients with high blood pressure and cardiovascular issues may be vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. For further details see section on COVID-19 and vaccination.
High BP
Written by BK Date created/updated 02.07.22
Reviewed by PJ Date Reviewed 09.07.22
