High blood pressureHigh blood pressure? Know your numbers.High blood pressure (hypertension) rarely causes symptoms, but over years it raises the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease. The good news: it is easy to check, and lifestyle changes and medicines work well to bring it down.Book a GP appointmentCall 07857 761328If you have chest pain, signs of a stroke (drooping face, weak arm, slurred speech) or severe breathlessness, call 999.Same & next-day appointmentsReadings checked properlyHeart & stroke risk assessedYou keep your NHS GPHeart risk blood test £941What it is2Your numbers3Causes4Who is at risk5Your appointment6What you can do7Get help now8FAQs Medically reviewed by Dr Muhammad Roslan, MBChB, DGM, MRCGP · GP & Clinical Educator · GMC 7446695OUR GP Dundee · Last reviewed November 2026Seen by a GPDiagnosis confirmed properlyHeart & kidneys checkedClear plan and regular reviewsStart hereWhat high blood pressure is, and why it mattersBlood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. High blood pressure means that force stays raised over time.It is written as two numbers, such as 128/82. The top (systolic) number is the pressure when your heart beats; the bottom (diastolic) number is the pressure as your heart relaxes between beats. Both matter.Most people with high blood pressure feel completely well, which is why it is sometimes called a silent condition. The only way to know is to have it measured. Over years, untreated high blood pressure strains the heart and blood vessels, so finding and treating it early protects your heart, brain, kidneys and eyes.Usually no symptomsMost people feel fine. Headaches are not a reliable sign either way.One reading is not enoughBlood pressure goes up and down. A diagnosis is confirmed with home readings or a 24-hour monitor.It is very commonIt becomes more likely as we get older, and often runs in families.It can be treatedLifestyle changes help everyone, and medicines bring it down further when needed.Back to top ↑Your numbersWhat your blood pressure reading meansReadings at home or on a 24-hour monitor run a little lower than in the clinic, so the limits are lower too.LevelClinic readingHome or 24-hour averageNot raisedBelow 140/90Below 135/85Stage 1 high blood pressure140/90 to 159/99135/85 to 149/94Stage 2 high blood pressure160/100 to 179/119150/95 or higherSevere high blood pressure180/120 or higherNeeds a same-day medical reviewMost people notice nothing. Very high blood pressure can sometimes cause a severe headache, blurred vision, chest pain or breathlessness. These need urgent help: see when it can’t wait.At OUR GPCheck your heart and circulation riskFor anyone with raised blood pressure, a family history of heart disease, or who simply wants to know their risk.A 20-minute appointment with blood tests that check your heart and circulation risk, with results explained.Good to know: it does not replace regular blood pressure readings at home or at a pharmacy.About our health checks →£94Heart risk blood test · about 20 minutes Book nowBack to top ↑CausesWhat can raise blood pressureFor most people there is no single cause. Age, genes and lifestyle add up over time. This is called essential (or primary) hypertension.GroupExamplesSalt and dietToo much salt, often hidden in bread, ready meals and processed food; too little fruit and vegetablesWeight and activityCarrying extra weight, especially around the middle; not being physically activeAlcohol and caffeineRegularly drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week; lots of coffee or energy drinksOther health conditionsKidney disease, diabetes, sleep apnoea, and some hormone conditions (such as thyroid or adrenal problems)Medicines and substancesAnti-inflammatory painkillers (such as ibuprofen), decongestants, steroids, some contraceptive pills, and recreational drugsIf high blood pressure is found under the age of 40, comes on suddenly or is very high, the GP will look more closely for another underlying cause (secondary hypertension).Who is more at riskAnyone can develop high blood pressure, but it is more likely if you:are over 60have a parent or sibling with high blood pressure or heart diseaseare of Black African or African-Caribbean family backgroundare overweight or physically inactivehave diabetes or kidney diseasehave sleep apnoea, or drink alcohol heavilyHigh blood pressure often sits alongside high cholesterol, diabetes and smoking. Together they add up, so we look at your overall heart and stroke risk, not just one number.Back to top ↑Your appointmentWhat the GP will doThe aim is simple: get an accurate reading, understand your overall risk, and agree a plan that suits you.Measure it properlySeated and relaxed, in both arms, with the right cuff size. If it is raised we repeat it during the appointment.Confirm the diagnosisIf your clinic reading is 140/90 or higher, we confirm it with a week of home readings or a 24-hour monitor, so a one-off or “white coat” reading is not mistaken for high blood pressure.Check your heart, kidneys and eyesA urine test, blood tests (kidney function, sugar and cholesterol), an ECG of your heart and a look at the back of your eyes. We also work out your 10-year risk of heart attack and stroke.Agree a planLifestyle changes for everyone, and medicines when your level or overall risk means they will help. We review you regularly, and at least once a year.Back to top ↑What you can doBringing your blood pressure downLifestyle changes can lower blood pressure on their own, and make medicines work better if you need them.Cut down on saltAim for less than 6 g a day, about a teaspoon. Check labels: most salt is already in the food we buy.Eat wellPlenty of fruit, vegetables, beans and wholegrains, with fewer fatty, sugary and processed foods.Move moreAim for 150 minutes a week of activity that makes you warm and a little out of breath, such as brisk walking.Keep to a healthy weightEven a small weight loss can make a real difference to your readings.Drink less alcohol and caffeineNo more than 14 units of alcohol a week, spread over several days, and go easy on coffee and energy drinks.Stop smokingSmoking adds to the damage in your arteries. Free help is available through Quit Your Way Scotland.Checking at home? Use a validated upper-arm monitor. Sit quietly for 5 minutes with your back supported and arm resting at heart height, then take two readings a minute apart, morning and evening, for 7 days. Ignore day 1, then add up all the top numbers and all the bottom numbers and divide each by the number of readings to get your average. Bring your readings to your appointment. High blood pressure (hypertension)Download our high blood pressure leafletA free two-page guide for patients, families and carers: what your numbers mean, why it matters, what you can do, and when to get help. Print it or keep it with your home readings.PDF · 2 pages · A4 · 241 KBDownload leaflet (PDF)Open to printBack to top ↑Get help nowWhen it can’t waitCall 999 if you havechest pain or tightness · signs of a stroke: a drooping face, weak arm or slurred speech · severe breathlessness · sudden confusion or a seizure (fit) · swelling of the lips, tongue or throatContact a GP the same day, or NHS 24 on 111 out of hours, ifa reading is 180/120 or higher after resting for 5 minutes, you have a severe headache or blurred vision, or you feel dizzy or faint after starting or changing a blood pressure medicine.A private appointment is not a substitute for emergency care. If you are unsure, call 999 or NHS 24 on 111.Back to top ↑FAQsCommon questions What is “white coat” hypertension?Some people’s blood pressure is higher in the clinic than at home, often because of nerves. That is why we confirm a high clinic reading with home readings or a 24-hour monitor before making a diagnosis. The opposite can also happen: normal in clinic but high at home. Does high blood pressure cause headaches?Usually not. Most people have no symptoms at all. A sudden severe headache with very high blood pressure, blurred vision or chest pain needs urgent help. Can I bring it down without tablets?Often, yes, especially if it is only mildly raised. Cutting salt, losing weight, being more active and drinking less alcohol all help. If your level or overall heart risk is higher, medicines are usually recommended as well. Will I need tablets for life?Many people do, because blood pressure tends to rise with age. If your blood pressure has been well controlled for a long time and you have made lasting lifestyle changes, the GP may discuss reducing or stopping a medicine carefully, with close follow-up. Never stop tablets on your own. Which home monitor should I buy?Choose an automatic upper-arm monitor that has been clinically validated. The British and Irish Hypertension Society keeps a list. Wrist monitors are less reliable, and an irregular heartbeat can affect automatic readings. What blood pressure should I aim for?For most adults under 80, the aim is below 140/90 in the clinic (135/85 at home). If you are 80 or over, the aim is below 150/90 (145/85 at home). Your GP may set a different target if you have other conditions.Worried right now?If you have chest pain, signs of a stroke or severe breathlessness, call 999. Out of hours, call NHS 24 on 111.Back to top ↑EvidenceWhere this information comes fromThis page follows UK guidance on diagnosing and managing high blood pressure in adults.NICE NG136: Hypertension in adults: diagnosis and managementNICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries: HypertensionBMJ Best Practice: Essential hypertensionBritish and Irish Hypertension Society: validated blood pressure monitorsBack to top ↑Worried about your blood pressure?Book a GP appointment and we will check it properly, look at your overall risk and agree a plan with you.Book a GP appointmentWhatsApp 07857 761328This page is general information and is not medical advice or a diagnosis. What’s appropriate is a clinical decision made with a GP at your appointment. OUR GP is a trading name of SRS Health Group Limited, regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland. All doctors hold a licence to practise with the General Medical Council. Meet our team. We see patients from Dundee, Angus, Perthshire and Fife. More questions? See our FAQs.