What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. In this video, Dr Ravi Assomull explains causes, thresholds, and why treatment is essential.
Learn more about High blood pressure or book a consultation with Dr Assomull – no GP referral needed, appointments typically within one working day.
Transcript
High blood pressure refers to the pressure in your vascular system. A blood pressure of over 135 over 85 on home readings is considered to represent high blood pressure. High blood pressure is important to diagnose and to treat because for every 20 mmHg your blood pressure is above target limit, your risk of a stroke or heart attacks in your lifetime doubles.
In terms of the causes of high blood pressure, this tends to be part and parcel of the ageing process as your blood vessels stiffen. But high blood pressure can actually be triggered by changes in your lifestyle. So if you're overweight, if your nutrition is poor, specifically if you take lots of ultra-processed foods which tend to be high in salt, this can also raise your blood pressure.
Finally, a lack of exercise, a lack of sleep can also result in elevation to your blood pressure and stress may be an underlying cause of all of these factors.
