Do you have high blood pressure? It is very common. Here is some good advice on what to do if you have it. It is in the form of FAQs and answers. First question.
1. What is normal blood pressure?
There is no such thing as ‘normal blood pressure’. But for most adults there is a normal range of between 110/70 and 135/85 mmHg.
“130/80 is a good average target for most patients, and 120/70 if you have diabetes.”
For most people, high blood pressure (BP) is ‘silent’, i.e. you cannot ‘feel’ whether it is high or low.
And for most people, high BP is called ‘essential (or primary) hypertension’, i.e. there is no underlying cause.
So, what level is ideal and high blood pressure?
And why treat high blood pressure?
Treatment for high blood pressure reduces the chance of a heart attack, stroke and chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Some of these risk factors you can alter, e.g. your weight, smoking and alcohol consumption.
Yes. If your blood pressure is slightly higher than the ideal level (130/80 mmHg), and your GP feels that the risks of cardiovascular disease are low, you may be able to lower your blood pressure by making simple lifestyle changes (see below).
Usually. If your blood pressure is moderately high (140/90 mmHg or above), or your GP feels that your risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years, you will be advised about changing your lifestyle and may also be prescribed medication.
If your blood pressure is very high (160/100 mmHg or above), it needs to be treated with the medication below.
If your blood pressure is very high (180/110 mmHg or above) you should also be referred to a specialist blood pressure doctor at your local hospital. This may be someone that also specialises in diabetes, heart or kidney disease.
This is partly as there may be an underlying treatable (called ‘secondary’) cause of the BP. If that is found and treated, the BP may return to normal.
The following lifestyle changes are known to reduce high blood pressure:
Even if you achieve a relatively small decrease in your blood pressure, it can still have significant health benefits.
Yes, and write it down. You should buy a BP machine and monitor your own BP. You can do this from any chemist or large supermarket or Amazon – prices vary, approximately £20-£40. ‘A&D’ is a good make.
This is how:
This is how to take your own blood pressure.
Yes, usually.
A number of medications can be used to treat high blood pressure. You may need to take more than one type of medication to lower your blood pressure, because a combination of tablets is sometimes needed to successfully treat the condition.
If you have high blood pressure, you may need to take blood pressure-lowering medication for the rest of your life. However, if your blood pressure levels stay under control for several years, you should ask your GP if you could come off your treatment and have your blood pressure monitored.
BP and ethnicity
Research has shown that different blood pressure lowering medications work better for different ethnic groups. For example, ACE inhibitors are more effective as a first-choice medication for treating high blood pressure in white people; whereas calcium channel blockers, or thiazide diuretics, tend to work better for black people.
Why? It is thought that this is because black people tend to have a lower level of a hormone (made by the kidneys) called renin in their blood. Renin is an chemical that helps to regulate blood pressure. ACE inhibitors are most effective when there is a high amount of renin in the blood; so they are not as effective in treating black people with high blood pressure.
Therefore, your GP will consider your ethnic background when making a treatment plan.
We have explained high blood pressure, with the use of FAQs and answers. We hope it has been helpful.