High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) is when the force of the blood pumping around your blood vessels is too high.

Blood pressure is recorded with two numbers. The higher number measures the force at which your heart pumps blood around your body and is known as systolic pressure. The lower number is the resistance to blood flow in the blood vessels, which is known as diastolic pressure. Both are measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).

In the UK, more than 1 in 4 adults have high blood pressure. Many people are unaware that their blood pressure is too high because high blood pressure rarely has noticeable symptoms.

Most people with high blood pressure do not experience symptoms, but some can experience:

• Headaches due to increased in smaller blood vessels
• Shortness of Breath
• Nosebleeds
• Anxiety

If you start to experience new symptoms, especially severe headaches, shortness of breath or chest pains, you should contact a healthcare provider.

It is not always clear what causes high blood pressure, but your risk is increased if you:

• 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.
• Are over the age of 65.
• Are overweight.

Healthy lifestyle changes can help lower your blood pressure:

• Eat less salt (limit your salt intake to 6g/day).
• Try to eat a balanced, healthy diet.
• Be more physically active.
• Cut down on alcohol and caffeine based drinks
• Stop smoking.
• Try to get a good night’s sleep.
• Taking blood pressure medication prescribed by your doctor - do not stop taking these without contacting your medical professional.

Myth 1: I take medication for high blood pressure, so I don’t need to worry about lifestyle changes.

Not true!

Even if you are controlling your blood pressure with medication, it can still be helpful to make changes to your lifestyle. Making lifestyle changes can help manage your blood pressure in the long-term and prevent it from increasing even more, over time. Making healthier choices can also reduce the risk of complications related to high blood pressure, such as heart failure and stroke.

Myth 2: I feel fine and I’m young, so I don’t need to check my blood pressure.

This is not correct.

Many people with high blood pressure have no symptoms, so it is important to check your blood pressure. While high blood pressure is more common as we get older, anyone can have high blood pressure, including children and young adults.

You can check your blood pressure yourself with a home blood pressure monitor. Your local pharmacist can signpost you to help you find one.

If you don’t feel comfortable checking your blood pressure yourself, you can get your blood pressure checked:

• At some pharmacies
• During an NHS Health Check
• In some workplaces
• At your GP surgery

Normal Blood pressure is between 120/80 mmHg or less.

High blood pressure is 140/90mmHg or higher.

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

Instead of high blood pressure, some people can have low blood pressure. Having low blood pressure does not always cause symptoms, but it can sometimes cause:

• Light headedness or dizziness and fainting
• Blurred vision
• Feeling sick
• Confusion
• Generally feeling weak

See your GP if you keep getting symptoms of low blood pressure.

British Heart Foundation

Help Line: 0808 802 1234 and 0300 330 3311

https://www.bhf.org.uk/

A national charity providing information and advice for the public and for health professionals. A really useful site containing lifestyle advice, the latest research, and information about tests and treatments. There are also British Heart Foundation support groups that are listed on the website. 

Hypertension Tips:  https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/research/blood-pressure/blood-pressure-tips

Blood Pressure UK

Help Line: 0207 882 6218

www.bloodpressureuk.org

A national charity providing information about checking your blood pressure, what the results mean, and advice about lifestyle changes and medication. Online forum available.

BDA Fact Sheet Hypertension

www.bda.uk.com/resource/hypertension-diet.html

Factsheets from the Association of UK Dietitians, containing diet advice for people living with hypertension and tips for managing the condition.

NHS

• NHS conditions https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/
• Public Health England https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-matters-combating-high-blood-pressure