High blood pressure and
cholesterol

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is when there is too much pressure in the blood vessels (arteries) that carry blood around our body. This puts strain on our arteries, our heart and other organs. Download the free ChoLESSterol booklet for further information.

Why is it important to treat high blood pressure?

Although high blood pressure rarely shows any obvious symptoms at first, it should be taken seriously as it can lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes heart attack or stroke. The good news is that your risk of developing CVD (your CV risk) can be reduced by making changes to your lifestyle, by treating high blood pressure and/or the other risk factors with medication where necessary. These other risk factors are discussed in more detail in the free ChoLESSterol booklet.

What is normal blood pressure and when should high blood pressure be treated?

• Ideal, or optimal, blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg or less, but normal blood pressurse is typically 130/80 mmHg or less. (mmHg is the unit used to measure blood pressure).
• Generally, people with blood pressure over 160/100 mmHg need treatment.
• Some people with blood pressure over 140/85 mmHg may also need treatment too.
• People who have diabetes are considered to need treatment for high blood pressure if their numbers are over 130/80 mmHg.

So, why is cholesterol important?

Like high blood pressure, cholesterol is another significant risk factor for the development of heart disease and stroke. Leading UK heart doctors recommend that everyone with high blood pressure should have their cholesterol assessed. High blood pressure and raised cholesterol are among the major independent factors that significantly affect your CVD risk. The third major risk factor is smoking.