Starting Out With Blood Pressure

The pressure of blood against artery walls, reported as systolic over diastolic in mmHg.

Key takeaways

• Ideal: below 120/80mmHg
• UK clinic threshold: 140/90mmHg or higher
• Most useful single change: Have it checked at least every five years.
• Commonest mistake: Assuming feeling well means your blood pressure is normal.
• See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.

Why bother

It causes no symptoms in almost everyone and is among the largest modifiable risk factors for stroke, heart attack and kidney disease.

Start here

These two first. Everything else is easier once they are habit.

• Have it checked at least every five years
• Take two or three home readings a minute apart and record the average

Then add these

Next, once the first two have stopped feeling like effort.

• Use a validated upper-arm monitor rather than a wrist device
• Reduce salt, alcohol and excess weight; all move the number

The numbers, in one place

Common early mistakes

• Assuming feeling well means your blood pressure is normal
• Judging anything on a single reading
• Stopping prescribed medication because readings have improved

Where to go next

• Blood Pressure: What the Evidence Actually Says
• Why Blood Pressure Matters, Explained Simply
• Blood Pressure — the reference entry
• Cholesterol: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
• What the Guidance Really Says About Cardiovascular Risk

When to speak to a doctor

Seek same-day advice for a reading of 180/120 or higher. Call 999 if very high blood pressure comes with chest pain, severe headache, breathlessness, vision changes, weakness on one side, or difficulty speaking.

Where this comes from

• NICE — Hypertension in adults
• NHS — High blood pressure

How this page was put together

Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.

Medical disclaimer

This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.