Common symptoms
- Usually none
- Occasional headache or dizziness may have other causes
- Breathlessness or chest discomfort
- Vision or neurological symptoms in emergencies
Risk factors
- Family history and age
- High salt intake, excess weight or inactivity
- Diabetes, kidney disease or sleep apnoea
- Tobacco, alcohol and certain medicines
When to consult a doctor
- Repeated home or clinic readings are high
- Measurement technique is uncertain
- Medicines cause dizziness or swelling
- BP occurs with diabetes or kidney disease
How the condition is assessed
Diagnosis uses correctly measured, repeated readings plus a review of medicines, sleep, diet, cardiovascular risk and possible secondary causes.
Possible investigations
- Home or ambulatory BP readings
- Kidney function, electrolytes and urine
- Glucose and lipid profile
- ECG when indicated
Tests are selected according to symptoms, examination and individual risk. Not every person needs every investigation listed.
General treatment approach
Lifestyle measures and one or more medicines may be needed. The safest target depends on age, symptoms, kidney function and cardiovascular risk.
Lifestyle considerations
- Use a validated cuff correctly
- Reduce excess salt and processed food
- Exercise regularly within safe limits
- Take medicines consistently
Warning signs requiring urgent care
- Very high BP with chest pain or breathlessness
- New weakness, facial droop or speech difficulty
- Sudden vision loss or severe unusual headache
- Seizure or loss of consciousness
If a warning sign is present, do not wait for a routine appointment. Seek urgent assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Can I feel high BP?+
Often not; reliable measurement is essential.
Can medicine stop after one normal reading?+
Not without review. The reading may be normal because treatment is working.
