High blood pressure, or hypertension, is much more common than you may imagine. It’s estimated that approximately 40% of adults in the United KingdomUK and approximately a third of adults in the USA have high blood pressure.

Blood pressure is defined as the pressure which is exerted upon the walls of the arteries as blood flows through them. It is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and is usually represented by two numbers.

Systolic pressure is the pressure which is measured whilst the heart beats and blood is being pushed around the body. This is usually the first number given and is the larger of the two numbers.

Diastolic pressure is the pressure measured when the heart is at rest inbetween beats. This is the second number and is the smaller of the two numbers.

So when a doctor or nurse advises you that your blood pressure is “120 over 80”, or you see 120/80 mmHg written in your medical report, it means that your systolic pressure is 120 millimetres of mercury and your diastolic pressure is 80 millimetres of mercury.

High blood pressure is normally defined as having a sustained blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher – although this definition can vary in some countries.

Often there are no symptoms of high blood pressure and it can go undetected. It is frequently found during routine medical examination or as a consequence of testing due to some other ailment. It is a significant risk factor in the onset of cardiovascular disease – conditions which may impact upon the circulation of blood around the body, e.g. stroke, heart disease etc.

If you have hypertension, your heart needs to work more to drive the blood around your body. Over time this additional strain can damage your heart. The extra pressure can also damage the walls of the arteries, which may result in a blockage or cause the artery to split – a haemorrhage. Either of these conditions might lead to a stroke.

There is no single identifiable cause for elevated blood pressure in 95% of cases. However, the available evidence shows that, in addition to age, lifestyle factors play a crucial role in determining your blood pressure. Excessive alcohol consumption, bad diet, lack of exercise, smoking and obesity are just some of the known risk factors.

Clearly medication exists which can help reduce your blood pressure – but, as with any medication there may be side effects and there will always be some unlucky patients who do not respond to drugs. Changes to your lifestyle, such as eating a healthier diet, taking regular exercise, reducing your alcohol intake, quitting smoking and losing some weight can be very effective in improving your blood pressure.

Many people might also find meditation, self hypnosis and other relaxation exercises to be effective. In addition to these more traditional methods, recent clinical evidence shows that paced breathing, guided by electronically controlled cues triggered by bio feedback can quickly yield sustainable reductions in blood pressure levels. FDA approved aids such as resperate are now freely available to hypertension sufferers and offer an effective drug free treatment.

In summary, hypertension is more common than you may think and, due to its lack of visible symptoms, you should have your blood pressure measured by a medical professional on a regular basis.

If you do learn that you have high blood pressure then you should be able to improve the situation by making some relatively easy lifestyle changes. Even if you are prescribed medication then the lifestyle modifications will be effective and many will have other health benefits as well.