High blood pressure runs in family, so find out if your parents or siblings have had a problem with this. Having a parent or brother or sister with high blood pressure.Ask your pharmacist about the side-effects of any medication you take. Taking certain medications, such as birth control pills.Blood pressure naturally increases with age. Sometimes another condition that affects your kidneys, arteries, heart or endocrine (gland) system can cause high blood pressure. Having kidney disease or other glandular problems.If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you’re twice as likely to get high blood pressure. Researchers are still trying to understand the exact link between long-term high blood pressure and ongoing stress. The hormones released in your body when you’re stressed increase your blood pressure. Moving more and sitting less will lower your blood pressure. Even losing just a few kgs can lower your blood pressure. Being overweight increases your risk of having high blood pressure. Over time, drinking too much on a regular basis can lead to long-term increases in blood pressure. Drinking alcohol temporarily increases blood pressure. Too much salt makes your body store extra water which raises your blood pressure. Many processed foods include a lot of salt. Eat too much processed foods and salt.Over time it damages your arteries, increasing your risk of a heart attack or stroke. When you smoke or vape nicotine your blood pressure goes up. Some risk factors for high blood pressure you can manage, for example when you: However there are a number of things that make you more likely to have it. What causes high blood pressure?įor most people, there isn't a single cause of high blood pressure. If it's still high and you're worried, contact your nurse or GP. If you take your own blood pressure and get an unusually high reading, take it a second time after at least five minutes. If the cuff is too big or too small, it can give an inaccurate reading. If you decide to buy one, it's important to get the correct cuff size. The blood pressure readings you do at home are as good as those done by your doctor. This means you can measure your blood pressure on an ongoing basis. Some people buy their own blood pressure monitor to use at home. If this is a problem, the doctor may get you to do blood pressure readings at home or order a 24-hour monitor to help confirm you have high blood pressure. Sometimes people's blood pressure goes up because they're worried about having it taken by the nurse or doctor. You have hypertension if your blood pressure stays high for three separate readings, on three separate occasions, over at least three months. The clinical term for this is hypertension.Ī single high blood pressure reading doesn't necessarily mean you have hypertension. High blood pressure is when your blood pressure is regularly higher than recommended levels. What is high blood pressure (hypertension)?
If you’re already on high blood pressure medication, your ideal blood pressure will be 130/80 or below. However, the blood pressure that is 'ideal' for you depends on many factors, including your overall risk of heart attack and stroke. What is a normal blood pressure reading?įor most people an ideal blood pressure is 120/75, or lower. You may also choose to have a blood pressure monitor at home. You can get a blood pressure reading at your GP practice and at most local pharmacies.
The second (bottom) number is when your heart relaxes (diastolic pressure).ĭuring a blood pressure test, a blood pressure cuff is wrapped around your arm so a blood pressure monitor can measure your systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The first (top) number is the pressure when your heart beats (systolic pressure). At the end, the machine will give a blood pressure reading.īlood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (which is written as mmHg).Ī blood pressure reading contains two numbers and will be written as a figure like 120/75 (this is said as '120 over 75'.) When the machine is switched on the cuff tightens and then slowly loosens again. This cuff is attached to a machine which measures the pressure inside your arteries. Blood pressure is measured using a machine called a blood pressure monitor.Ī cuff (thick band) is put over your arm.