You know how it is - you gain a little bit of weight, you eat a few too many takeaways, and you stop going for your evening walks with the dog. Coincidentally - or not - you start to get pains trickling down your arm, your chest hurts, and you feel breathless. You start to worry about whether you’ve got a serious medical condition and realise that it could be high blood pressure. Surely high blood pressure is a condition reserved for morbidly unhealthy people, isn’t it? Well, not necessarily. If we’re not careful, high blood pressure can present on people of all shapes, sizes, and levels of health. In this blog, we detail the symptoms and causes of high blood pressure.
Your guide to high blood pressure including where to get a blood pressure check
What is high blood pressure (hypertension)?
High blood pressure, aka hypertension, is a serious condition whereby the rhythm of your blood flows too vigorously around your body, knocking against your artery walls repeatedly. High blood pressure can cause sudden and potentially fatal conditions like heart attack, heart disease, and stroke. If medically treated and regulated, people with high blood pressure can continue to live long and healthy lives. Take a look at the chart below to see normal blood pressure numbers against elevated and hypertensive figures.
Blood pressure chart
| Category | Systolic (Top Number) | Diastolic (Bottom Number) |
| Normal | <120 | <80 |
| Elevated | 120-129 | <80 |
| Stage 1 Hypertension | 130-139 | 80-89 |
| Stage 2 Hypertension | ≥140 | ≥90 |
| Hypertensive Crisis | ≥180 | ≥120 |
*Heart Association. It’s important to note that normal blood pressure ranges are different depending on your age. It’s always recommended to get a blood pressure check done to ensure you are within the healthy range.
Warning signs of high blood pressure
Oftentimes, people will have high blood pressure but because the symptoms are so mild, they will ignore or not even notice them. Symptoms and early warning signs of high blood pressure includes the following:
- Headache
- Shortness of breath
- Warm face
- Tightness in chest
- Blurring in front of the eyes
- Nosebleed
- Confusion
- Swelling of the legs
*WARNING: If you have a severe headache, difficulty speaking, or weakness on one side you could be in hypertensive crisis which is a medical emergency. In this case, call 999 immediately. If you have the above early warning signs such as a warm face and shortness of breath, you can go ahead and contact your GP or private doctor about a blood pressure test.
What are the risks of high blood pressure?
According to heart.org, the risks of blood pressure are serious and long-term. They include the following:
- Heart attack
- Heart failure (because high BP puts strain on your heart)
- Stroke
- Liver disease
- Vision loss
- Dementia
- Bone loss
- Depression and anxiety
Remember, high blood pressure is a preventable disease and if caught early enough, its symptoms can be managed with no complications. If you suspect your blood pressure to be high, book a blood pressure check near you.
What causes high blood pressure?
Most cases of high blood pressure are generally avoidable, and as long as you are eating healthily, drinking responsibly, and moving often - your risk for high blood pressure ought to be low.
So what causes high blood pressure?
- Obesity and weight gain
- Living a sedentary life with little movement
- Eating too much fat, salt, dairy, or junk
- Drinking too much alchohol
- Smoking cigarettes
- Poor sleep
- Not drinking enough water
Usually, avoiding or reducing unhealthy habits can improve your blood pressure. It’s not a forever disease - there are ways to lower your blood pressure; you just have to put the time and effort into yourself and your body.
Other causes of high blood pressure which can’t be helped:
- Age (over 45)
- Family history
Hypertension vs Hypotension
While hypertension is high blood pressure, hypotension means low blood pressure. Low blood pressure comes with differing symptoms, including dizziness, nausea, clammy skin, and a rapid pulse Mild cases of low blood pressure can be treated with a small snack, but more serious cases will require a blood pressure check [link] by a GP or heart health specialist at a private clinic [link] to ensure enough oxygen is getting to your brain.
What is the treatment for high blood pressure?
The treatment for high blood pressure is largely about lifestyle changes, such as stopping smoking, practising healthy sleep rituals, or limiting your red meat consumption. Medication can also be given for high blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, you will be monitored continuously by a GP or a private doctor.
How to measure blood pressure
Blood pressure is measured in a GP surgery or private clinic and involves having a sleeve placed over the bicep. Air fills the blood pressure machine and tightens around your bicep, measuring the forcefulness of your blood flow.
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