High blood pressure (hypertension)

Overview

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, means the pressure in your blood vessels stays too high. It often causes no symptoms, so a blood pressure check is the only way to find it. Treatment can greatly lower the chance of serious problems.

How common is it?

High blood pressure is common, especially as people get older. It can also affect younger adults, so regular checks matter even when you feel well.

Causes and risk factors

For many people there is no single cause. Blood pressure can rise with age and is affected by family history, salt intake, weight, activity, alcohol, smoking, some medicines, and health conditions involving the kidneys or hormones.

Common risk factors

• Getting older or having close relatives with high blood pressure
• A diet high in salt, being less active, or having excess weight
• Smoking or regularly drinking more alcohol than recommended
• Having diabetes, kidney disease, sleep apnoea, or certain hormone conditions
• Some medicines, including some anti-inflammatory medicines, decongestants, and hormonal treatments

Symptoms

• Usually no symptoms
• Occasional headaches or blurred vision can occur, but do not reliably show whether blood pressure is high
• Chest pain, breathlessness, weakness, or new confusion need urgent assessment and should not be assumed to be caused by blood pressure alone

When to see a doctor

Book a blood pressure check if you have not had one recently, have a home reading that worries you, or have risk factors. Seek urgent help for repeated very high readings, especially with headache, vision changes, chest pain, breathlessness, weakness, or confusion. Call 999 for symptoms of a heart attack or stroke.

Diagnosis

A clinician measures your blood pressure with an arm cuff. One reading is not usually enough to diagnose hypertension, so you may be asked to use a home monitor or wear a monitor that takes readings over 24 hours. Blood and urine tests may check for related health problems or a possible cause.

Treatments

Self-care and lifestyle

• Take prescribed medicines every day as directed and do not stop them without medical advice
• Use a validated upper-arm monitor if you are checking at home, and record readings as your clinician advises
• Ask a pharmacist before using cold remedies, anti-inflammatory painkillers, or supplements if you have high blood pressure
• Tell your clinician promptly if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or develop troublesome medicine side effects

Prevention

Not all high blood pressure can be prevented, but regular checks and heart-healthy habits can lower risk and help find it early.