High blood pressure
Patient education
- Feeling well does not exclude it
- Confirm with repeat readings
- Keep taking prescribed treatment
What it is
Blood pushing too hard against the walls of the vessels, over a long time. It usually causes no symptoms at all, which is why it damages the heart, kidneys and eyes quietly.
When to seek urgent care
There is chest pain, sudden severe headache, difficulty breathing, weakness or numbness on one side, difficulty speaking, or sudden trouble seeing.
How it shows
Usually nothing. Headaches and nosebleeds are not reliable signs and waiting for symptoms is how it gets missed. The only way to know is to have it measured.
What to do
Have it measured, more than once and on different days, because a single high reading is not a diagnosis. If you are already on treatment, keep taking it even when you feel well - it works by being taken continuously, and stopping is the most common reason it fails.
Blood pressure checks are available at most health centres and many pharmacies, often for very little. Medicines need a prescription and need reviewing, not just repeating forever.
Understanding a blood pressure result
The first number is the pressure when the heart pumps; the second is the pressure between beats. High blood pressure often causes no symptoms, but over time can damage the brain, heart, kidneys and eyes.
A single raised reading is not always a diagnosis. A clinician may repeat it on another day or arrange home monitoring. Use the right cuff size, rest quietly beforehand, support the arm and keep a dated record. Ask which target applies to you; pregnancy needs separate assessment.
What helps over time
Reduce salt, including in stock cubes and heavily salted packaged foods. Choose more vegetables, fruit and minimally processed foods, keep physically active as able, avoid tobacco and limit alcohol.
Medicines may still be needed despite healthy habits. Do not stop because you feel fine or because a reading improves. Discuss dizziness, side effects, pregnancy plans and all medicines or herbal products. Follow-up may include kidney tests, urine tests and checks of other heart risk factors.
Sources
- High blood pressure · Public sector health information · OGL v3.0
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.