Understanding High Blood Pressure

💡 What is High Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against your artery walls as your heart pumps. When this pressure stays high over time, it's called hypertension.

It's often called the "silent killer" because most people with high blood pressure don't feel any symptoms — but it can quietly damage your heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes over years.

The good news: once detected, it can usually be managed effectively with lifestyle changes and/or medication.

What do the numbers mean?

Blood pressure is measured as two numbers, like 120/80 mmHg:

• Top number (systolic) — pressure when your heart beats
• Bottom number (diastolic) — pressure when your heart rests between beats

Category	Systolic	Diastolic
Normal	Below 120	Below 80
Elevated	120–139	80–89
High (Hypertension)	140 or higher	90 or higher

Note: Your GP may use slightly different targets based on your age and other conditions.

⚠️ Why Does It Matter?

High blood pressure makes your heart work harder and damages your blood vessels over time. If left untreated, it increases your risk of:

• Heart attack — narrowed arteries to the heart
• Stroke — damaged blood vessels in the brain
• Heart failure — heart muscle weakened from overwork
• Kidney disease — damaged blood vessels in the kidneys
• Vision problems — damaged blood vessels in the eyes

This is why managing blood pressure is a key part of reducing your cardiovascular risk (your QRISK3 score includes blood pressure).

💊 How Is It Treated?

Lifestyle changes (always first)

• Reduce salt — aim for less than 6g/day
• Eat more fruit & vegetables — potassium helps lower BP
• Maintain healthy weight — losing weight can significantly reduce BP
• Exercise regularly — 150 mins moderate activity per week
• Limit alcohol — stick to recommended limits
• Stop smoking — smoking damages blood vessels
• Reduce stress — chronic stress contributes to high BP

Medications

If lifestyle changes aren't enough, your GP may prescribe medication. Common types include:

• ACE inhibitors (e.g., ramipril, lisinopril) — relax blood vessels
• Calcium channel blockers (e.g., amlodipine) — relax blood vessels
• Thiazide diuretics (e.g., indapamide) — reduce fluid
• ARBs (e.g., losartan, candesartan) — similar to ACE inhibitors

Many people need more than one medication to reach their target. This is normal and doesn't mean your BP is "worse."

❓ Questions to Ask Your GP