Hypertension

Hypertension, also called high blood pressure, means blood pressure remains raised and can gradually strain blood vessels, the heart, brain and kidneys.

Blood pressure naturally changes with activity, stress and time of day. Hypertension is identified from repeated measurements rather than how a person feels during a single reading. It is often manageable through a combination of lifestyle support, regular monitoring and medicines when prescribed.

Hypertension often has no noticeable symptoms. Headache, blurred vision and nosebleed can occur in people with hypertension, but each has many possible causes and should not be used to diagnose blood pressure at home. A blood pressure measurement is the reliable way to check.

Seek urgent medical help for sudden weakness of the face, arm or leg, trouble speaking, severe chest pain, severe shortness of breath, sudden vision loss, confusion, or a severe unusual headache.

For many people, there is no single cause. Blood pressure may rise as the arteries become less flexible or as the body retains more salt and fluid. Kidney conditions, hormonal disorders, some medicines, alcohol, smoking and stimulant substances can contribute. A clinician may look for an underlying cause when the pattern or medical history suggests one.

Raised blood pressure can cause silent strain for a long time. Ongoing control aims to reduce damage to blood vessels and organs before complications develop. Measurements may differ between clinic and home, which is why a clinician may request a series of readings or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring across daily activities and sleep.

Family history, increasing age, excess body weight, low physical activity, a high-salt diet, regular alcohol intake and smoking can all be relevant. Obstructive sleep apnoea and some long-term health conditions can also make blood pressure harder to control. Risk factors guide a personal plan; they do not determine an individual’s future.

A clinician uses a correctly sized cuff and considers repeated readings. You may be asked to avoid talking during the measurement and to sit quietly beforehand. Home readings can be useful when taken with a validated device and recorded as instructed. Blood and urine tests, an electrocardiogram, or other checks may be used to look for causes and assess organ health.

Treatment is tailored to your readings, overall health and possible contributing conditions. Lifestyle changes can work alongside medicines; do not stop a prescribed medicine because readings improve unless the prescriber advises it. Medicines may need adjustment to balance blood pressure control with side effects.

Nutrition counselling can help translate lower-salt eating into familiar meals. A chronic disease review provides a chance to check readings, medicines, side effects and goals together.

Bring your home monitor or record to appointments if you use one. Take medicine at the same point in your routine, request a repeat prescription before it runs out, and tell your clinician about over-the-counter products, supplements or anti-inflammatory pain medicines. Follow-up is part of treatment because needs can change over time.

Untreated or poorly controlled hypertension can damage blood vessels and place extra workload on the heart. Over time, it can contribute to heart attack, heart failure, stroke, transient ischaemic attack, kidney disease and eye damage. Regular care is intended to reduce this ongoing strain.

Regular activity, a varied eating pattern with less salt, avoiding tobacco, moderating alcohol and managing sleep can support healthy blood pressure. If you have a family history or another health condition, periodic checks can identify a raised pattern before it causes symptoms.

Book a routine appointment for repeated raised readings, treatment side effects, pregnancy-related blood pressure concerns, or uncertainty about using a monitor. Seek urgent care for the severe sudden symptoms described above, rather than waiting for a routine blood pressure check.