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All you need to know about high blood pressure
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, affects approximately one-third of adults in the UK1. Patients are often asymptomatic, but if left untreated it increases your risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke. In this article, Dr Farhan Shahid, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at The Harborne Hospital, answers some of the most common questions about hypertension.
What do we mean by high blood pressure?
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is where your blood is pushing too forcefully against your arterial walls. Blood pressure is measured in mmHg (millimetres of mercury) and is given as two numbers – your systolic blood pressure (the larger number, when your heart contracts), and diastolic (the smaller number, when your heart relaxes between beats).
What constitutes high blood pressure varies between age groups and gender. However, in the younger population, blood pressure readings over 130/80 mmHg can be considered high.
What’s a normal blood pressure by age?
A normal blood pressure is generally considered to be anything under 120/80 mmHg. However, what’s considered a normal blood pressure varies with both age and gender – as we get older, our blood pressure increases. Average blood pressures by age are:
- Under 40: Men 119/70 mmHg, women 110/68 mmHg
- 40–59: Men 124/77 mmHg, women 122/74 mmHg
- 60+: Men 133/69 mmHg, women 139/68 mmHg
Your GP or health professional will flag if your blood pressure looks too high or low during any check-ups.
What are the causes of high blood pressure?
Diet and lifestyle play a major role in controlling your blood pressure. A high‑salt diet, excess alcohol consumption, smoking, physical inactivity and being overweight can all increase your blood pressure. You can also have a genetic predisposition to hypertension. High blood pressure caused by these factors is referred to as primary hypertension as there is no single identifiable cause.
Secondary hypertension is when high blood pressure is caused by another underlying condition, such as complications from diabetes, kidney disease, hormonal conditions or a narrowed aorta.
Some people experience what’s called white coat hypertension, where anxiety during a medical appointment temporarily raises their blood pressure.
What are the symptoms or warning signs of high blood pressure?
High blood pressure often has no symptoms, which makes its early diagnosis and treatment even more critical. In the cases where high blood pressure does cause symptoms, they can include headaches, blurred vision and chest pain.
Can high blood pressure cause headaches?
Hypertension can cause a headache, but only when your blood pressure is very high. This can feel like a strong, throbbing pain on both sides of your head.
If you have a headache due to hypertension, it’s generally a sign of a hypertensive emergency, which is where your blood pressure reaches around 180/120 mmHg. If this happens, you should seek medical attention immediately and call 999.
What should I do if my blood pressure is too high?
If you have high blood pressure, you should have a full cardiovascular risk assessment to help identify the causes and develop a treatment plan to reduce your blood pressure and your risk of any complications arising from hypertension. Our cardiac specialists at HCA UK have appointments available in as little as 24 hours to offer you a full cardiac check-up and a treatment plan that’s tailored to you.
What treatments are available for high blood pressure?
Treatments for high blood pressure depend on the cause. For secondary high blood pressure, treatment is focused on the condition causing high blood pressure.
Treatment for primary high blood pressure focuses on adjusting your diet and lifestyle – reducing your salt intake and alcohol consumption, stopping smoking, and leading a more active life.
If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, blood pressure medication may be prescribed, especially if levels are very high or if your cardiovascular risk is increased.
If blood pressure medication isn’t effective, a new treatment on offer at The Harborne Hospital is renal denervation. This is a minimally invasive procedure where a catheter is inserted into the femoral artery and guided to the renal arteries. It then delivers radiofrequency energy to disrupt overactive nerves, reducing the signals that cause high blood pressure.
1British Heart Foundation, Heart statistics 2026 - https://www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/our-research/heart-statistics
If you’re concerned about your blood pressure, our expert cardiologists offer in-depth assessments, diagnoses and personalised treatment plans.
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