Signs and Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms?

Most people with hypertension have no symptoms at all; this is why it is known as the “silent killer”. Sometimes hypertension causes symptoms such as headache, shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, palpitations of the heart and nose bleeds, but not always.

The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure checked regularly. You can get your blood pressure tested at your GP surgery and in some pharmacies.

How is blood pressure measured?

A doctor or nurse will measure your blood pressure with a small gauge attached to an inflatable cuff. It’s simple and painless.

The person taking your blood pressure wraps the cuff around your upper arm. Some cuffs go around the forearm or wrist, but often they're not as accurate.

Your doctor or nurse will inflate the cuff, and it will tighten around your arm.

Then the cuff is released. As the cuff deflates, the first sound heard through the stethoscope is the systolic blood pressure.

The point where this noise goes away marks the diastolic blood pressure.

In a blood pressure reading, the systolic number always comes first, and then the diastolic number. For example, your numbers may be "120 over 80" or written as 120/80.

Can I check my blood pressure at home?

Yes, you can also check your blood pressure yourself with a home blood pressure monitor. Monitoring blood pressure at home is important for many people, especially if you have high blood pressure. This helps you and your doctor find out if your treatment is working.

Did you know?

"White coat hypertension" is a real condition. For some people the stress of being in a doctor’s office can raise their blood pressure, but when they’re home, their blood pressure is normal.

How do I know if my blood pressure is at a normal range?

To help you determine your blood pressure level, just check the guide below:

High blood pressure is considered to be 140/90 or higher.
Ideal blood pressure is considered to be between 90/60 and 120/80.
Low blood pressure is considered to be 90/60 or lower.
A blood pressure reading between 120/80 and 140/90 could mean you're at risk of developing high blood pressure if you don't take steps to keep your blood pressure under control.

How often do you think you should get your blood pressure checked?

Never
Once every 5 years
Once every 2 years
Once a year
Once a month
Once a day

Did you get it right?

If your blood pressure is normal (less than 120/80):
Get it checked at least every 2 years or more frequently as your doctor suggests.

If your blood pressure is borderline high (called prehypertension) - systolic blood pressure between 120 and 139 or diastolic blood pressure of 80 to 89 - check it at least every year or more often as your doctor suggests. Depending on whether you have other medical issues, a “borderline” reading might be considered too high.

If your reading is 140/90 or higher :
You have high blood pressure and need to see your doctor. You may need to start medication. Hypertension can also lead to kidney failure, blindness, and cognitive impairment.

Did you know?

Cardio Vascular Diseases are the number 1 cause of death globally: more people die annually from Cardio Vascular Diseases than from any other cause.

Source: World Health Organization