High blood pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, rarely has noticeable symptoms. But if untreated, it increases your risk ofserious problems such as heart attacks andstrokes.
More thanone infour adults in the UK have high blood pressure, although many won't realise it.
The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure checked.
This page covers:
Medication for 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:
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.
Find out more aboutwhat your blood pressure result means.
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:
If you have high blood pressure,reducing it even a small amount can help lower your risk of these conditions.
The only way of knowing whether you have high blood pressure isto 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:
You can also check your blood pressure yourself with ahome blood pressuremonitor.
Readmore about getting a blood pressure test.
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:
Making healthy lifestyle changes can help reduce your chances of getting high blood pressure and help lower your blood pressureif it's already high.
The medication recommended for you will depend on thingslike how high your blood pressure is and your age.
Readmore abouthow blood pressure is treated.
Find everything you need to know about high blood pressure (hypertension), including causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, with links to other useful resources.
Find out what can increase your risk of high blood pressure and what the known underlying causes are.
Find out when you should get your blood pressure tested, where you can get tested, and what the test involves.
Read about the main treatments for high blood pressure, including lifestyle changes and medication.
Find out about the lifestyle changes you can make to prevent and reduce high blood pressure.
Read Andy Jones' story about his diagnosis and treatment for high blood pressure.