High Blood Pressure

Having high blood pressure can put extra strain on your blood vessels, heart, brain, kidneys and eyes

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What is high blood pressure (Hypertension)?

Your blood pressure is recorded with two numbers, systolic pressure and diastolic pressure.

  • systolic pressure – the force at which your heart pumps blood around your body
  • diastolic pressure – the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels

High blood pressure is a reading of 140/90mmHg or higher.

Blood pressure readings between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg are considered ideal although everyone’s ‘ideal’ blood pressure result will be slightly different.

Measuring blood pressure can be hard to do properly. Many patients have artificially high pressure if measured inaccurately.

What causes high blood pressure?

Whilst the causes of high blood pressure are not always clear, there are certain things that can increase your risk, including if you:

  • are over 65 years old
  • are overweight
  • have a relative with high blood pressure
  • eat too much salt
  • do not exercise enough
  • drink too much alcohol or caffeine
  • smoke
  • do not get enough sleep
  • have obstructive sleep apnoea

You can read more about the causes and symptoms of high blood pressure.

Risks of high blood pressure

Having high blood pressure puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and the brain, kidneys and eyes.

If high blood pressure persists, it can increase your risk of a number of serious and life-threatening health conditions including:

Testing for high blood pressure

To investigate the causes of your high blood pressure, we can carry out the following tests:

Treatment of high blood pressure

Blood pressure needs treatment if it is too high, to reduce the risk of stroke or heart failure.

  • lifestyle changes – lose weight, reduce salt, increase fresh vegetables and fruit, reduce fat
  • Treating possible causes – for example, obstructive sleep apnoea
  • medication – many drugs are available, and will be tailored to your condition
  • renal denervation – not yet a cure, but will be considered in resistant hypertension

Why choose Welbeck?

At Welbeck, our cardiologists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialities, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if needed to ensure you receive the best possible treatment as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Book your private consultation

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.

FAQs

Could high blood pressure cause headaches?

It’s rare to experience symptoms with high blood pressure, but it can cause headaches as well as other symptoms like blurred vision and chest pain.

 

Can high blood pressure cause dizziness?

Feelings of dizziness are not usually associated with high blood pressure. If you’re experiencing dizziness frequently or persistently, make an appointment to see a doctor for a checkup to exclude other reasons (such as fluctuating blood pressures, both high and low, or other reasons such as vestibular (inner ear) issues)

 

Can high blood pressure make you tired?

If your blood pressure is consistently high, your heart and blood vessels have to work harder to circulate blood. This could result in a reduction in oxygen levels and nutrient delivery to tissues, which can lead to tiredness. Tiredness is also a side effect of some medications used to treat high blood pressure.

 

Does coffee cause high blood pressure?

Coffee and other caffeinated drinks can raise blood pressure (and alertness) in the short term, but aren’t thought to have any long-term impact. 

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High Blood Pressure Specialists

Our Heart Health specialists at OneWelbeck in London are leaders in their field. They are equipped with the latest diagnostic medical technology at custom-built, day-case facilities to investigate any symptoms and ensure you receive the best available care.