High blood pressure, or hypertension as it’s medically known, is when the blood pressure in your body is consistently high. If left untreated, it can cause serious health complications.

Here, we’ll explore high blood pressure symptoms, causes of high blood pressure, how to lower blood pressure, what is normal blood pressure by age and how to know when hypertension is a medical emergency. For more information and support in navigating this condition, sign up to Carecircle and connect with fellow patients, carers and experts.

What is High Blood Pressure and Hypertension?

Blood pressure is the pressure at which blood moves around your body. In order for the body to function, blood pressure needs to be at a certain level and will go up and down throughout the day depending on what you’re doing. Blood pressure usually rises when you’re moving about and settles down again when you’re resting.

High blood pressure, or hypertension (HTN medical abbreviation), is when your blood pressure is at a consistently high level, meaning your heart constantly has to work harder to move blood around the body. Your arteries, which carry the blood, are designed to cope with fluctuating blood pressure levels. When your blood pressure rises, your arteries become stiff and narrow.

If your blood pressure is consistently high, dangerous blockages of fatty material (atheroma) can build up in your arteries. This is when serious health problems can occur including strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, kidney failure, vascular dementia and eyesight problems.

What are the symptoms of High Blood Pressure?

Often, there are no obvious signs of high blood pressure. This is why hypertension is sometimes referred to as ‘the silent killer’. Those that do experience hypertension symptoms may experience:

• Blurred vision
• Nosebleeds
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Headaches

It’s estimated that around a third of adults in the UK has high blood pressure. However, many of these people are completely unaware of their condition. This is why it’s important for healthy adults (particularly those aged 40 and over) to have their blood pressure checked regularly.

When your blood pressure is measured, the reading is written as two numbers. The first represents systolic blood pressure and the second represents diastolic blood pressure.

Systolic blood pressure (SBP)

Systolic pressure is the highest level of your blood pressure and is measured at the point where your heart contracts. It represents the force at which your heart is pumping blood around your body. In a reading, SBP is the higher number.

Diastolic blood pressure (DBP)

Diastolic blood pressure is the lowest level of your blood pressure and indicates the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels. It’s measured at the point where your heart relaxes between heartbeats. In a reading, DBP is the lower number.

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Blood pressure chart

Healthy or normal blood pressure is a reading under 120/80 mmHg. The below blood pressure chart shows a range of levels that are classed as healthy, elevated, Stage 1 hypertension, Stage 2 hypertension and Hypertension crisis.

What causes high blood pressure?

High blood pressure can be caused by a number of things relating to diet, lifestyle and medical conditions. Sometimes, there is no apparent cause. High blood pressure can also run in families or can be caused by old age. You may be at higher risk of high blood pressure if you:

• Are overweight
• Drink too much alcohol or coffee
• Smoke
• Are aged 65 or over
• Do not do enough exercise
• Eat too much salt or not enough fruit and vegetables
• Have a relative with high blood pressure
• Are of black African or black Caribbean descent

Sometimes, underlying health conditions can cause high blood pressure. These include kidney disease, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea, long-term kidney infections, glomerulonephritis, lupus, scleroderma or hormone problems such as an under or overactive thyroid or Cushing’s syndrome.

Certain medications can also cause high blood pressure. Medicines that can cause hypertension include the contraceptive pill, steroids, certain cough and cold remedies, certain herbal remedies, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen and recreational drugs. It’s often the case that blood pressure can return to normal once you stop taking these drugs or medicines.

How do you diagnose hypertension?

As high blood pressure often doesn’t cause symptoms, the best way of finding out if you have hypertension is by getting your blood pressure checked. The NHS recommends that those aged 40 and over get their blood pressure checked at least once every 5 years. Those with an increased risk of suffering from hypertension should get checked annually.

You can get your blood pressure checked by:

• Visiting your GP surgery or certain pharmacies
• Attending your NHS Health Check appointment
• Using a home blood pressure testing kit

Certain workplaces or health events may also provide blood pressure check services.

What is normal blood pressure by age?

Normal blood pressure ranges are slightly different depending on age and sex. The blood pressure chart by age and gender below shows normal level ranges.

Males (Age)	SBP	DBP
21-25	120.5	78.5
26-30	119.5	76.5
31-35	114.5	75.5
36-40	120.5	75.5
41-45	115.5	78.5
46-50	119.5	80.5
51-55	125.5	80.5
56-60	129.5	79.5
61-65	143.5	76.5

Females (Age)	SBP	DBP
21-25	115.5	70.5
26-30	113.5	71.5
31-35	110.5	72.5
36-40	112.5	74.5
41-45	116.5	73.5
46-50	124	78.5
51-55	122.55	74.5
56-60	132.5	78.5
61-65	130.5	77.5

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What’s the treatment for Hypertension?

The good news is that high blood pressure can sometimes be treated with blood pressure tablets or lifestyle changes. Certain lifestyle changes that can reduce your high blood pressure include:

• Cutting down on salt intake to less than 6g (0.2oz) a day
• Eating a low-fat and balanced diet
• Getting more exercise
• Reducing your alcohol and caffeine consumption
• Losing weight if you are overweight
• Stopping smoking
• Practising relaxation techniques
• Catching up on sleep

It’s often the case that adopting necessary lifestyle changes can reduce your high blood pressure alone. In that case, medication might not be required.

If you do need medicine to control your high blood pressure, you’ll usually be offered ACE inhibitors or an angiotensin-2 receptor blocker (ARB) if you are under 55 years old. Those 56 and over or of any age and African or Caribbean descent are usually offered a calcium channel blocker.

High Blood Pressure FAQs

It’s natural to have many questions about high blood pressure and hypertension. Here are the answers to some FAQs.

What does high blood pressure mean?

High blood pressure is when the blood in your body is moving through your arteries at a higher pressure than normal. It’s normal for your blood pressure to fluctuate throughout the day based on different activities but if it’s consistently high, serious health problems can occur. These can include stroke, heart disease, heart attack and kidney failure.

What is considered high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is measured in two readings: the top number is your systolic blood pressure and the bottom number is your diastolic number. When the number on top is less than 120 and the number on the bottom is less than 80, it’s classed as a normal blood pressure reading. Anything higher is classed as high blood pressure.

The below blood pressure chart UK details what’s considered healthy, elevated, Stage 1 hypertension, Stage 2 hypertension and Hypertension crisis.

How do you feel when you have high blood pressure?

High blood pressure often causes no symptoms and people with high blood pressure are completely unaware of their condition until serious health issues present themselves. Occasionally, you may experience high blood symptoms. These can include:

• Blurred vision
• Nosebleeds
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Headaches

When is high blood pressure an emergency?

High blood pressure is considered an emergency when your levels rise quickly and severely. If your reading is 180/120 or higher AND you are experiencing chest pains, shortness of breath, numbness or weakness, difficulty speaking, change in vision or severe headaches, you should seek emergency care immediately.

Pregnant women should also seek immediate medical help if their blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. They should also contact their healthcare provider if they’re experiencing upper abdominal pain, vision changes, headaches and swelling in the hands or feet.

What is pulmonary hypertension?

Pulmonary hypertension is when high blood pressure occurs in the pulmonary arteries (the blood vessels that supply the lungs). This reduced blood flow makes it difficult for the right side of the heart to pump blood, which can lead to heart failure. Ultimately, it’s a rare condition but is more common in those with underlying heart or lung conditions.

What is hypertension stage 1?

Hypertension stage 1 is when your high systolic blood pressure is consistently between 130-139 mm Hg and your high diastolic blood pressure is between 80-90mm Hg. If you’re diagnosed with Hypertension stage 1, you’ll be recommended to adopt some lifestyle changes and in some cases, you’ll be prescribed high blood pressure medication.

What is essential hypertension?

Essential hypertension, or primary hypertension as it’s now known, is high blood pressure caused by more than one factor. These include being obese or aged 65 and over, drinking too much alcohol or caffeine, eating a high-salt diet, suffering from sleep issues, having a family history of high blood pressure and leading a sedentary lifestyle.

Essential hypertension causes damage to blood vessels and can result in life-threatening complications including brain aneurysms, dementia, heart attacks, heart failure, kidney disease, malignant hypertension, stroke and vision loss.

How to cure high blood pressure in 3 minutes?

If your blood pressure elevates and you’re wondering how to reduce blood pressure, lie down and take deep breaths. This will help to reduce stress, decrease your hormone levels and slow your heart rate down. Other methods of emergency treatment for high blood pressure at home include warm baths, meditation and gentle stretches.

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High blood pressure resources

If you’re suffering from high blood pressure or hypertension, you may find the following resources useful:

• NHS High blood pressure hypertension
• Blood Pressure UK
• British and Irish Hypertension Society
• Heart.org

High blood pressure or hypertension is a common condition that can cause life-threatening implications if ignored or left untreated. Fortunately, there are many ways to reduce your blood pressure and put your health back on track, but it often requires lifestyle changes and sometimes medication. As high blood pressure often doesn’t have symptoms, it’s important to have your blood pressure checked regularly.

Sources:

• https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/high-blood-pressure
• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159283#symptoms
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/
• https://www.medicinenet.com/blood_pressure_chart_reading_by_age/article.htm
• https://www.onhealth.com/content/1/blood_pressure_chart_reading_range_age_men_women
• https://familydoctor.org/condition/high-blood-pressure/
• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/16563-high-blood-pressure–when-to-seek-emergency-care
• https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/high-blood-pressure/symptoms-and-treatment
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pulmonary-hypertension/
• https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings
• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22024-primary-hypertension-formerly-known-as-essential-hypertension
• https://www.medicinenet.com/how_can_i_lower_my_blood_pressure_in_minutes/article.htm
• https://hhma.org/how-can-i-lower-my-blood-pressure-immediately/