Patient Information > Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure

What is high blood pressure?
Symptoms of high blood pressure
Causes
Long term effects and complications
Treatment

What is high blood pressure?

One in three adults in Australia suffer from high blood pressure (hypertension). One in three people with high blood pressure are actually unaware that they have it.

Blood pressure is the amount of pressure needed to circulate the blood. It varies according to your age and activities. When you are resting, your heart does not need to beat as fast or as hard so the blood pressure is less. During exercise, activity or stress the body needs more blood and oxygen so the heart beats faster and blood pressure rises to meet demand. If you have high blood pressure (hypertension), your blood pressure is always elevated, even when you are resting.

Symptoms of high blood pressure

High blood pressure can cause headaches, dizziness and problems with vision. However, the majority of people with high blood pressure suffer no symptoms at all. You could have high blood pressure for years without knowing it. High blood pressure is usually diagnosed during a routine medical examination, so it is important that your GP or nurse checks your blood pressure regularly.

Causes

In many people with high blood pressure, the cause is unknown. Smoking, obesity, “lazy lifestyle”, stress, age and diabetes can all lead to high blood pressure. Some people have a family history of high blood pressure.

Long term effects and complications

Although you may feel fine, having untreated high blood pressure for a long time can cause damage to many parts of the body including the blood vessels, heart, kidneys and retina of the eyes. If left untreated, high blood pressure is an important risk factor for hardening of the arteries, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney failure and loss of vision. So, once diagnosed, it’s important to treat it.

Treatment

The good news is, high blood pressure can be treated and controlled. It’s a life-long commitment but there is a lot you can do to help yourself, such as:

• stopping smoking;
• reducing your alcohol intake;
• taking regular exercise;
• eating a healthy diet;
• reducing the amount of salt you have in your diet; and
• watching your weight.

High blood pressure can also be treated with medications. There are many different treatments to help reduce high blood pressure and your doctor will choose the best medication for you. High blood pressure can’t be fixed overnight – it’s a matter of adjusting your lifestyle and making sure you take your medication. Your doctor will explain your target blood pressure reading, so you know what you are aiming for.