We cannot just assume that our blood pressure is within normal limits. High blood pressure is often symptomless, which is why it is called the “silent killer”.
Most people can feel normal even with dangerously high readings, but, when very high, some people may experience symptoms such as:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Chest pain or palpitations
- Nosebleeds (rare)
There are some risk factors that can predispose you to having high blood pressure and these include:
- Being over the age of 40
- Being overweight
- Smoking or drinking excessively
- Consuming a high-salt diet
- Living a sedentary lifestyle
- Having a family history of hypertension
- Living with consistent high stress levels
Your blood pressure is considered normal if it measures below 120/80 mmHg.
Raised blood pressure is called hypertension and is generally categorised in two stages:
- Stage 1 Hypertension: 130–139 systolic or 80–89 diastolic
- Stage 2 Hypertension: 140+ systolic or 90+ diastolic
Since our blood pressure is not something we can assume is normal, it is best to measure it with a blood pressure monitor to get our baseline reading. From there we can do intermittent readings to make sure that there are no major fluctuations.
This we can do fairly easily by:
- Buying or borrowing a home blood pressure monitor
- Taking our readings twice a day, either morning and evening, or randomly during the day
Keep a note of your results and if you notice that your blood pressure is in or moving towards the higher ranges, make an appointment to see your GP or medical professional for further monitoring. It’s unlikely that you will be diagnosed with high blood pressure based on one or two readings so your GP might want to do a 24-hour evaluation to monitor your levels throughout the day and night before deciding on treatment options.
Lifestyle changes are the foundation of blood pressure control, and in many cases, they can significantly reduce or even eliminate the need for medication.
Listen to my interview with Brad Kirsten from Radio Cape Pulpit on 12 June 2025 to learn more. Listen to my next interview on Thursday at 7.45am.