What can I do to lower my blood pressure?
Although high blood pressure does not usually have a single cause there are some factors which can play an important…
What difference does treatment make?
From research over the last 30 years it is evident that blood pressure-lowering drugs are effective in preventing strokes, heart…
Do I need special tests?
High blood pressure can be effectively treated. It is important, however for patients to be examined by a doctor before…
If it causes no symptoms, does it matter?
It has been known for many years that people with untreated high blood pressures have a greater than normal risk…
How do I know that I have high blood pressure?
Contrary to popular belief, most patients with high blood pressure have no symptoms. Occasionally patients have symptoms such as headache,…
The Pill and Pregnancy
Some oral contraceptives (“the pill”) increase blood pressure in a small proportion of women. For this reason, measurements of blood…
What causes high blood pressure?
In over nine patients out of ten with high blood pressure no underlying disease can be found. The term “essential…
What is normal blood pressure?
For a young person a typical reading might be 120 systolic and 80 diastolic. These values are expressed in millimetres…
Measuring blood pressure
Pressures are usually measured with an instrument called a sphygmomanometer. A cuff containing a rubber balloon is placed around the…
Systolic and diastolic pressure
The heart is not a continuous pump. It beats and then relaxes. Each heart-beat produces a pressure wave. The peak…