Blood pressure is recorded with 2 numbers. The systolic pressure (higher number) is the force at which your heart pumps blood around your body. The diastolic pressure (lower number) is the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels. They're both measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). As a general guide: high blood pressure is considered to be 140/90mmHg or higher (or 150/90mmHg or higher if you're over the age of 80) ideal blood pressure is usually considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg Blood pressure readings between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg could mean you're at risk of developing high blood pressure if you do not take steps to keep your blood pressure under control. Everyone's blood pressure will be slightly different. What's considered low or high for you may be normal for someone else.

High blood pressure usually has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it. Measuring your blood pressure is the only way to know whether you have high blood pressure.

If your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs, such as the brain, kidneys and eyes. Persistent high blood pressure can increase your risk of a number of serious and potentially life-threatening health conditions, such as: heart disease heart attacks strokes heart failure peripheral arterial disease aortic aneurysms kidney disease vascular dementia If you have high blood pressure, reducing it even a small amount can help lower your risk of these health conditions.

The only way of knowing whether you have high blood pressure is to have a blood pressure test. All adults over 40 are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every 5 years. Getting this done is easy and could save your life.

It's not always clear what causes high blood pressure, but there are things that can increase your risk. You might be more at risk if you: are overweight eat too much salt and do not eat enough fruit and vegetables do not do enough exercise drink too much alcohol or coffee (or other caffeine-based drinks) smoke do not get much sleep or have disturbed sleep are over 65 have a family history are of black African or black Caribbean descent Making healthy lifestyle changes can sometimes help reduce your chances of getting high blood pressure and help lower your blood pressure if it's already high. What lifestyle changes can reduce blood pressure? These lifestyle changes can help prevent and lower high blood pressure: reduce the amount of salt you eat and have a generally healthy diet cut back on alcohol lose weight if you're overweight exercise regularly cut down on caffeine stop smoking Some people with high blood pressure may also need to take 1 or more medicines to stop their blood pressure getting too high.

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