Blood pressure

Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood in the arteries as the heart pumps it around the body.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure (also known as 'hypertension') can lead to serious health problems, such as a heart attack, a stroke, heart failure or kidney disease.

There are often no symptoms or signs of high blood pressure—you can have high blood pressure and feel well. To find out if your blood pressure is high, it is important you have regular blood pressure checks by a health professional like your doctor.

Blood pressure readings are given as 2 numbers. For example, 120 over 80 (often written as 120/80).

• The first number refers to systolic blood pressure—the highest pressure against the inner walls of your arteries as the heart pumps.
• The second number is diastolic blood pressure, the pressure against the inner walls of your arteries as the heart relaxes.

Normal blood pressure is generally considered to be less than 120/80.

The following factors increase the risks of serious health problems associated with high blood pressure:

• smoking
• having high blood cholesterol
• being overweight
• having diabetes.

If you have high blood pressure your doctor will provide you with treatment options which may include lifestyle changes and medication if necessary. If you are given medication for high blood pressure it’s important to take it as prescribed, and ensure you don’t stop taking it without consulting with your doctor.

Low blood pressure

Low blood pressure can also cause health problems such as:

• lightheadedness, when standing from a sitting or lying position
• unsteadiness
• dizziness
• weakness
• blurred vision
• fatigue
• fainting.

Low blood pressure is only a problem if it has a negative impact on the body. For example, vital organs (particularly the brain) may be starved of oxygen and nutrients if the blood pressure is too low for your body.