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High blood pressure is very common, especially in older adults. There are usually no symptoms, so you may not realise you have it.
Things that increase your chances of having high blood pressure include:
Some pharmacies may charge for a blood pressure check.
Some workplaces also offer blood pressure checks. Check with your employer.
Many pharmacies offer free blood pressure checks for people aged 40 or over.
High blood pressure does not usually cause any symptoms.
Many people have it without realising it.
Rarely, high blood pressure can cause symptoms such as:
But the only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to get your blood pressure checked.
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.
You could be having a heart attack. Call 999 straight away as you need immediate treatment in hospital.
Do not drive yourself to A&E.
The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.
A blood pressure test involves inflating a band (cuff) around your upper arm and measuring the pressure in your blood vessels.
If the test shows you might have high blood pressure, you may be asked to:
This can confirm if you have high blood pressure.
Blood pressure readings are given as 2 numbers, with the 1st number higher than the 2nd (for example, 130/80).
If you're under 80 years of age, you're usually considered to have high blood pressure if your reading is either:
If you're aged 80 or over, you're usually considered to have high blood pressure if your reading is either:
Use our check your blood pressure reading tool to see your reading on a chart and understand what it means.
If your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs, such as your brain, kidneys and eyes.
If it's not treated, it can increase your risk of serious conditions such as:
Lowering your blood pressure even a small amount can help reduce your risk of these problems.
Healthy lifestyle changes can help lower your blood pressure.
have a healthy, balanced diet
exercise regularly – aim to do at least 150 minutes of exercise a week
lose weight if you're overweight
do not eat too much salt – avoid salty food or adding salt to your meals
do not drink too much alcohol – avoid drinking more than 14 alcohol units a week on a regular basis
do not drink too much caffeine – drinks high in caffeine include coffee, tea and cola
do not smoke
NHS Better Health has free tools and support to help you lose weight, get active, quit smoking and drink less.
A GP will usually prescribe medicine for high blood pressure if:
There are lots of different medicines for high blood pressure. The medicine recommended for you depends on things like how high your blood pressure is, your age and your ethnicity.
Most blood pressure medicines are taken as tablets once a day. You may need to take more than 1 medicine to keep your blood pressure under control.
You can get more information and advice about high blood pressure from:
