Contrary to popular belief, most patients with high blood pressure have
no symptoms. Occasionally patients have symptoms such as headache, but
only if the pressure is very high. Symptoms like headache are far more likely
to be due to other causes such as anxiety. When patients attending a
hypertension clinic, some years ago, were asked whether they suffered from
headache, far more of those who had been told they had high blood pressure
complained of headache than those who did not know they were
hypertenisive. In this case ignorance was bliss! Because most people with
high blood pressure have no symptoms, the condition commonly goes
undetected. To identify hypertension there is no substitute, therefore, to have
your blood pressure measured. Improved detection of high blood pressure
depends on an increase in public awareness of the need to have blood pressure
measured This is particularly true for people approaching middle age when high
blood pressure becomes more common and for people who have relatives with
high blood pressure. Measurements are made as a routine at insurance and
employment medicals but your doctor or practice nurse will usually measure your blood pressure on request. It is often convenient to have a measurement
during a routine consultation which has been sought for other reasons.
Machines are available for you to measure your own pressure. Some of
these can be purchased and some work on the, coin in the slot, principle.
Whilst they have undoubtedly allowed hypertension to be diagnosed in some
people it is preferable for your blood pressure to be measured by a trained
‘do it yourself’ machines. Such factors as position of the cuff on your arm,
person such as a doctor or nurse. There is often no check upon the accuracy of
muscle tension and posture may have a profound influence upon blood pressure
readings and lead to either unnecessary alarm or a false sense of security.