Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Information
Hypertension (or "high blood pressure") is a serious condition but is simple to diagnose and can be easy to manage with the right medication and lifestyle.
Around a third of adults in the UK have high blood pressure, although many will not realise it. The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure checked.
High blood pressure rarely has noticeable symptoms, but persistent and untreated high blood pressure can increase the risk of several serious and potentially life-threatening health problems such as heart attacks and strokes.
Information about normal blood pressure ranges depending on your age and conditions:
| Patient Group | Age | Clinical Blood Pressure Target |
|---|---|---|
| High Blood Pressure and no other related conditions | Under 80/yrs | < 140/90 |
| Over 80/yrs | < 150/90 | |
| Type 1 Diabetes | < 135/85 | |
| with urine proteins | < 130/80 | |
| Type 2 Diabetes | < 140/80 | |
| with excess urine proteins | < 130/80 | |
| Chronic Kidney Disease (Stages 3-4) | < 140/90 | |
| with excess urine proteins / diabetes | < 130/80 | |
| Stroke and Mini Strokes (TIAs) | (in some cases a higher range) | < 130/80 |
(note that you may have agreed on a different target range with your nurse, GP or specialist)
You’ve just been diagnosed with high blood pressure:
During the course of your investigations for high blood pressure, you will need to have some blood tests (eg kidney function, cholesterol) and possibly a heart tracing (ECG).
A few people may need more specialist investigations. The most important thing is to keep a diary of your blood pressure readings.
How do I control my blood pressure?
Download this MS Word care plan which you can complete to help you to manage your blood pressure.
More and more, people are taking control of their high blood pressure by having a blood pressure monitor at home (see links below) and taking steps to improve their blood pressure.
Above all, being as informed as possible, often sharing experiences with others and building healthy daily routines makes the biggest difference.
Resources...
Last Updated 11/06/2026