Understanding your health is an important step towards living healthier. At Broadway Pharmacy with Cure Clinics we are here to ensure you have the help, medicines and clinics to help you do just that.
Here is some key information for people living with high blood pressure and some links to further reading. Prevention is an important part of looking after yourself so we’ve provided a link to some information about preventing this condition towards the end.
If you have any queries or would like to arrange to speak with one of our pharmacist clinicians get in touch.
What is high blood pressure (hypertension)?
You have high blood pressure when the pressure in your blood vessels is unusually high. Blood pressure is recorded with 2 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:
- High blood pressure is considered to be 140/90mmHg or higher (or 150/90mmHg or higher if you’re over the age of 80)
- Ideal blood pressure is usually considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg
Blood pressure readings between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg could mean you’re at risk of developing high blood pressure if you do not take steps to keep your blood pressure under control.
Everyone’s blood pressure will be slightly different. What’s considered low or high for you may be normal for someone else.
Causes of high blood pressure
It’s not always clear what causes high blood pressure, but there are things that can increase your risk.
You might be more at risk if you:
- are overweight
- eat too much salt and do not eat enough fruit and vegetables
- do not do enough exercise
- drink too much alcohol or coffee (or other caffeine-based drinks)
- smoke
- do not get much sleep or have disturbed sleep
- are over 65
- have a relative with high blood pressure
- are of black African or black Caribbean descent
- live in a deprived area
Making healthy lifestyle changes can sometimes help reduce your chances of getting high blood pressure and help lower your blood pressure if it’s already high.
Symptoms of high blood pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, rarely has noticeable symptoms. But if untreated, it increases your risk of serious problems such as heart attacks and strokes.
Around a third of adults in the UK have high blood pressure, although many will not realise it.
The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure checked.
Further reading
For more reliable information you can take a look at the following sources:
NHS
High blood pressure – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/
Diagnosis – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/diagnosis/
Prevention – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/prevention/
British Heart Foundation
General information – https://www.bhf.org.uk
Coronavirus and high blood pressure – https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/coronavirus-and-you
Blood Pressure UK
General information – http://www.bloodpressureuk.org
