High blood pressure can be a serious health concern
High blood pressure is sometimes called a silent killer. This is because it can be difficult to identify the symptoms.
If you’re over 40, you should have regular checks to find out whether yours sits at a healthy range. Learn why high blood pressure affects your health, how to measure yours and what you can do to lower yours if it’s too high.
Reviewed by: Mital Thakrar
Published: March 2025
Next review: March 2028
High blood pressure, or hypertension, makes your heart pump blood around your body with too much force. This puts pressure on your arteries, the tubes that carry blood away from your heart.1
Sometimes, the symptoms of high blood pressure can go undetected for years, which can result in serious health conditions, including:
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Coronary heart disease | Coronary heart disease causes chest pain, shortness of breath and can make you feel sick (nausea). This is because of a build-up of fatty deposits in the blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.2 |
| Heart attacks |
Heart attacks happen when blood flow to the heart is stopped by a blockage. There are lots of symptoms that can differ by gender. Men usually experience sweating; pain in the chest, jaw or arms; shortness of breath and chest pain. Women usually experience dizziness; pain between the shoulder blades; shortness of breath and difficulty sleeping. But symptoms will vary from person to person. If you think you or someone you know is having a heart attack you should call 999 or visit A&E immediately.3 |
| Strokes | Strokes occur when the blood supply to the brain is cut off. Symptoms include droopiness on the side of your face, inability to raise your arms above your head and slurred speech.4 You should contact emergency services if someone you know is potentially in this state. |
| Heart failure | Heart failure happens when your heart can’t pump blood around the body properly. If you have the condition, you might notice that you are breathless even when resting, feel tired and have swollen ankles and legs.5 |
| Peripheral arterial disease | Peripheral arterial disease is the result of a build-up of fatty deposits in your blood vessels. This leads to reduced blood supply in your legs. People who have this condition will experience leg aches during exercise, numbness, slow-growing toenails, muscle wastage and shiny skin.6 |
| Aortic aneurysm | Aortic aneurysm is the result of a swollen artery called the aorta. The aorta is a major blood vessel. This is a serious health condition because the vessel can suddenly burst. 7 |
| Kidney disease | Kidney disease happens when your kidneys don’t work as expected. As a result, you might experience tiredness, swollen ankles, nausea, blood in your urine and shortness of breath.8 |
| Vascular dementia | Vascular dementia is caused by a lack of oxygen getting to the brain. Oxygen is transported in your blood. If your heart is unable to pump correctly, you are at increased risk of developing this condition. It can cause confusion, difficulty walking or balancing, problems with organisation and concentration and make it more difficult for you to process information.9 |
If you suspect that you have high blood pressure getting help from your GP or pharmacist is straightforward. You can book an appointment at your GP surgery or visit your local pharmacy. They’ll be able to diagnose you and recommend treatment to help lower your blood pressure.
Normal blood pressures help to move blood around your body. This helps your organs receive the oxygen and nutrients they need.
Your blood pressure will naturally change throughout the day. When you’re at rest or sleeping it’s usually lower, but if you are active and moving, you’ll notice that it may be slightly higher.
When your blood pressure is too high you may notice that it impacts you and your daily life.
High blood pressure is often referred to as the silent killer because it can be difficult to notice the symptoms. There are signs and if you feel concerned you should arrange to speak to a GP or pharmacist to have a health check.
Some symptoms you can look out for include:
- Headaches
- Blurred vision and bloodshot eyes
- Regular nose bleeds
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling generally unwell.1,10
Your local pharmacy may offer a walk-in service for blood pressure checks. A pharmacist should be able to discuss your symptoms with you and check if you have high blood pressure in a private consultation room. They’ll also advise you on what steps or treatments you can take to lower your blood pressure.
People aged 40 to 74 in England are invited for a free NHS health check every 5 years. The health check includes a blood pressure check.10
Depending on your age, ethnicity or family history, you may have to have your blood pressure checked every year. This is because some groups of people have a higher risk of developing it.11
You might need medication to control your blood pressure. Your GP or pharmacist will explain how and when to use it. Ask them any questions you might have so that you feel confident taking the medicine and managing your blood pressure.10
A blood pressure reading is measured using two different readings:
- Systolic pressure: the pressure on your arteries when your heart pumps out blood.
- Diastolic pressure: the pressure on your arteries when your heart is relaxed between contractions.11
You’ll only know if you have high blood pressure if you get it tested. You can do this at home using a blood pressure monitor or by visiting your GP or pharmacist. They will be able to test your blood pressure and give you advice on how to manage your symptoms.
A normal blood pressure reading will be different for different people.
You are at risk of high blood pressure if you are under 80 and have a blood pressure of 140/90 or higher. If you are over 80, you have a high blood pressure if your reading is 150/90 or higher.
Your blood pressure has to be consistently high, even when resting for you to be diagnosed with high blood pressure.10
It’s not clear why some people develop high blood pressure. However, there are risk factors associated with the condition. Unhealthy lifestyles and underlying medical conditions are some of the most prevalent.10
Other risk factors include:
- Being male
- Being over 65
- Having a poor diet (having too much salt and caffeine and not enough fruit and vegetables)
- Not doing enough exercise
- Being overweight
- Drinking alcohol to excess
- Being of an African, Caribbean and South Asian descent
- Being a smoker
- Having a family history of high blood pressure
- Living in a deprived area.10,12
It’s possible to develop what is known as secondary high blood pressure. This happens when a health condition you already live with causes your blood pressure to increase over time.
You have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure if you have:
- Kidney disease or long-term kidney infection
- Sleep apnoea
- Some autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, thyroid disease, Cushing syndrome, lupus
- Acromegaly
- Scleroderma.11
Take care of your heart. Book your free blood pressure check.
It doesn’t matter whether you’ve noticed symptoms or not, getting your blood pressure checked can help you avoid serious illness.
Blood pressure checks are available at your local Well Pharmacy. And our team are on hand to give you advice to improve your heart health.
If you’re over 40, the service is free in England. All you need to do is head in-store and ask a member of our team about it.
Visit your nearest pharmacy
Get support and advice from your local Well pharmacist
British Heart Foundation
A UK charity for individuals with heart disease. It provides information and support on a range of heart conditions, including preventative steps, risk factors and more. It also provides a heart helpline that is free for anyone who has questions or concerns about their heart health.
Blood Pressure UK
A UK-based charity for people with blood pressure issues. It provides support and information for people with high and low blood pressure.
NHS website
Information about blood pressure, including what high and low blood pressure is, how to improve your blood pressure and medication to keep blood pressure under control.
- Blood Pressure UK. Accessed December 1, 2020. http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/your-blood-pressure/understanding-your-blood-pressure/
- Coronary heart disease - Prevention. nhs.uk. Published October 3, 2018. Accessed March 7, 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronary-heart-disease/prevention/
- Heart attack. nhs.uk. Published October 24, 2017. Accessed March 7, 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-attack/
- Stroke. nhs.uk. Published October 24, 2017. Accessed March 7, 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stroke/
- Heart failure. nhs.uk. Published October 23, 2017. Accessed March 7, 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-failure/
- Peripheral arterial disease (PAD). nhs.uk. Published October 23, 2017. Accessed March 7, 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/peripheral-arterial-disease-pad/
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm. nhs.uk. Published October 20, 2017. Accessed March 7, 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm/
- Chronic kidney disease. nhs.uk. Published October 20, 2017. Accessed March 7, 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-disease/
- Vascular dementia. nhs.uk. Published October 23, 2017. Accessed March 7, 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vascular-dementia/
- High blood pressure. Accessed December 7, 2020. https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/high-blood-pressure
- High blood pressure (hypertension). nhs.uk. Published October 23, 2017. Accessed February 27, 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/
- High blood pressure (hypertension). NHS inform. Accessed February 27, 2024. https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/heart-and-blood-vessels/conditions/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/