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If your blood pushes against your blood vessel walls with too much force, it puts a strain on your heart and blood vessels.This is high blood pressure (hypertension).When your heart beats, it pumps blood around your body to give it the energy and oxygen it needs. As the blood moves, it pushes against the sides of the blood vessels. The strength of this pushing is your blood pressure. If your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your heart and blood vessels. This is called high blood pressure, or hypertension. Over time it can lead to a number of health problems including heart attacks, stroke, kidney disease and some forms of dementia. The good news is there are lots of things you can do to lower it.High blood pressure is very common, about a third of adults in the UK have it, but many aren’t aware of it. It doesn’t usually have any symptoms so the only way to know you have it is to have a blood pressure check. How is blood pressure measured?Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) using a simple machine. When you have it measured it will be written as two numbers, a top number and a bottom number. For example, if your reading is 120/80mmHg, your blood pressure is 120 over 80. Find out more about what the numbers mean and if yours is in the healthy range. What should your blood pressure be?
Most people in the UK have blood pressures higher than the ideal, but below the usual cut-off for diagnosing high blood pressure – somewhere between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg. If you’re in this range, you could develop high blood pressure in the future. Taking steps to lower your blood pressure will keep your risk of health problems down. What is a high blood pressure reading?
You might also have high blood pressure if just one of the numbers is higher than it should be – so if the top number is over 140mmHg or the bottom number is over 90mmHg. A single high reading doesn’t necessarily mean you have high blood pressure, as many things can affect your blood pressure throughout the day and it could just be a one-off. If you have a high reading, your doctor or nurse will want to see if it stays high over time before diagnosing high blood pressure. What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?
Occasionally, people with very high blood pressure have symptoms including:
Visit your GP if you have any symptoms you’re worried about. Who should have a blood pressure check?
Where can you get a blood pressure check?
You can also measure your blood pressure at home using a home monitor. What causes high blood pressure?
Your age, ethnic background, and even your genes could play a role, and sometimes high blood pressure is caused by another health problem such as a kidney problem. What are the types of high blood pressure?
Why is high blood pressure a problem?
If you have other health problems as well as high blood pressure, such as diabetes or high cholesterol, this makes serious health problems in the future more likely, making it more important to take steps to lower your blood pressure. Keep your blood pressure under controlThe higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk of health problems, and lowering it is one of the best things you can do for your health. Even a small change can make a big difference – lowering the top number by 10mmHg lowers the risk of a heart attack or stroke by 20%. Some people have blood pressure below the healthy range. This is known as low blood pressure, but is normally nothing to worry about. The video below shows how to keep a healthy blood pressure. You can start taking steps today to lower your blood pressure and keep it in check. Read more about the changes you can make to your diet and lifestyle, and the medications that are available if you need them. What are the early warning signs of high blood pressure?If you have certain symptoms, including fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, headache, excessive sweating, palpitations or irregular heart beats, problems with your vision, or confusion; these may be serious and should warrant prompt medical attention.
What are the 5 symptoms of high blood pressure?Symptoms of High Blood Pressure. Blurry or double vision.. Lightheadedness/Fainting.. Fatigue.. Headache.. Heart palpitations.. Nosebleeds.. Shortness of breath.. Nausea and/or vomiting.. |