High Blood Pressure

“There are no obvious signs or symptoms of high blood
pressure, so you may not know you have it.
That’s why it’s important to have regular check-ups to…”.1

Umbrella

What may the High Blood Pressure Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Essential Hypertension
  • High Blood Pressure (HBP)
  • Hypertension
  • Idiopathic Hypertension
  • Primary Hypertension

Blood Pressure

What is blood pressure (BP)?

DotS the definition of BP may vary. The (United States) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) definition is:

“Blood pressure is the pressure that occurs when blood pushes against the walls of your arteries. Arteries carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body”.2

High Blood Pressure

What is high blood pressure (HBP)?

DotS the definition of HBP may vary. The British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) definition is:

“The medical term for high blood pressure is ‘hypertension’, and it means your blood pressure is always too high. This means your heart is working harder when pumping blood around your body”.3

Hypertension

What is hypertension?

DotS the definition of hypertension may vary. In Hypertension the World Health Organization’s definition is:

“Hypertension, also known as high or raised blood pressure, is a condition in which the blood vessels have persistently raised pressure”.4

Normal Blood Pressure

What is a normal BP?

In High Blood Pressure: What Is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) the (United States) National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) explain:

“Blood pressures are written as two numbers separated by a slash like this: 120/80 mm Hg. You can say this as “120 over 80 millimeters of mercury” or just as “120 over 80.” The first number is your systolic pressure — that’s the force of the blood flow when blood is pumped out of the heart. The second number is your diastolic pressure, which is measured between heartbeats when the heart is filling with blood”.

Your blood pressure changes throughout the day based on your activities. A healthy systolic blood pressure is less than 120 mm Hg. A healthy diastolic pressure is less than 80 mm Hg. Your blood pressure is high when you have consistent systolic readings of 130 mm Hg or higher, or diastolic readings of 80 mm Hg or higher”.5

Blood Pressure Numbers

What are some BP numbers?

In High Blood Pressure: About High Blood Pressure – Definition of High Blood Pressure the CDC elaborate on:

“Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg.

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is blood pressure that is higher than normal.

High blood pressure is consistently at or above 130/80 mm Hg”.6

Signs and Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of HBP?

In Blood Pressure and Your Heart: High Blood Pressure – What Are the Signs and Symptoms of High Blood Pressure? the Heart Foundation of Australia note:

“There are no obvious signs or symptoms of high blood pressure, so you may not know you have it. That’s why it’s important to have regular check-ups to measure your blood pressure levels and learn how to manage it”.7

Common or Not

How common is HBP?

In the United States, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as at 11 April 2024:

“Nearly half, more than 119 million, American adults have high blood pressure. But only about 1 in 4 of those people have their condition under control. Many people develop high blood pressure when they are in their late 30’s or early 40’s, and it occurs more frequently as people age. However, because of the obesity epidemic, more and more children are also developing high blood pressure”.8

In the United Kingdom (UK), according to the BHF as at 01 March 2023:

“As many as 5 million adults in the UK have undiagnosed high blood pressure and don’t know they are at risk”.9

Cause

What causes HBP?

In High Blood Pressure – Causes and Symptoms: Causes of High Blood Pressure? the BHF note:

“In most cases, there isn’t a specific reason for the cause of high blood pressure, but most people develop it because of their diet, lifestyle or medical condition”.10

Alcohol

Is there an association between alcohol and HBP?

In Alcohol: Does It Affect Blood Pressure? Does Drinking Alcohol Affect Blood Pressure? the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Drinking too much alcohol can raise pressure on the walls of blood vessels to unhealthy levels. Having more than three drinks in one sitting raises blood pressure for a short time. Binge drinking over and over can cause long-term rises in blood pressure”.11

Menopause

Is there an association between menopause and HBP?

In High Blood Pressure and Women: Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure and Menopause the AHA’s Go Red for Women note:

High Blood Pressure“While you may have had normal blood pressure most of your life, your chances of developing high blood pressure increase considerably after menopause.

Heart disease risk rises for everyone as they age, but for women symptoms can become more evident after the onset of menopause”.12

In Menopause and High Blood Pressure: What’s the Connection? Is There A Connection Between Menopause and High Blood Pressure? the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Blood pressure tends to go up after menopause. Some healthcare professionals think changing hormones related to menopause may cause blood pressure to rise. Others think an increase in body mass index, also called BMI, during menopause may be the cause.

Changes in hormones during menopause can lead to weight gain. Also, these changes can make blood pressure more sensitive to salt in the diet. When this happens, blood pressure can go up. Some types of hormone therapy for menopause may lead to higher blood pressure as well”.13

Early Detection

Why is early detection of HBP important?

In High Blood Pressure–Understanding the Silent Killer: Why Is It Important To Know If You Have High Blood Pressure?  FDA explain:

“Early detection of high blood pressure is very important. Often referred to as the “silent killer” because it may show no symptoms, high blood pressure puts you at an increased risk for heart disease, heart failure, and stroke, among other things”.14

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have HBP?

If you think you have HBP, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. In High Blood Pressure – Causes and Symptoms: Symptoms of High Blood Pressure the BHF explain:

“Most people don’t know they have high blood pressure because there aren’t obvious symptoms. That’s why it’s so important to get your blood pressure checked regularly.

Rarely, it can cause symptoms like blurred vision, headaches and nosebleeds”.15

In High Blood Pressure: Managing High Blood Pressure – Creating A Care Plan With Your Health Care Team the CDC elaborate on:

“You and your health care team can work together to create a care plan for your high blood pressure and other conditions that can lead to high blood pressure. Discuss your treatment plan regularly and bring a list of questions to your appointments”.16

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to High Blood Pressure?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to High Blood Pressure?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

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  14. Bloodpressureuk.org [Blood Pressure UK]
  15. Buying A Home Blood Pressure Monitor? 6 Things You Need To Know
  16. Caffeine: How Does It Affect High Blood Pressure?
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  56. High Blood Pressure: What Is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) [+ Video: Learn About High Blood Pressure]
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  71. Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension)
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  73. May Is High Blood Pressure Education Month [United States]
  74. Mayo Clinic Minute: Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease In the Black Community [+ Video]
  75. Mayo Clinic Minute: Menopause and the Heart Connection [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  76. Mayo Clinic Q and A: What Time Is Best for Blood Pressure Medication?
  77. Menopause and Cardiovascular Risk
  78. Menopause and Heart Health
  79. Menopause and High Blood Pressure: What’s the Connection?
  80. Menopause and Women’s Health
  81. Millionhearts.hhs.gov [Million Hearts, United States]
  82. Mindyourrisks.nih.gov [Mind Your Risks, United States]
  83. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  84. National Women’s Blood Pressure Awareness Week 2024 [October 13-19, United States]
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  95. World Heart Day [29 September]
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  96. World Hypertension Day
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  97. World Menopause Day: Patient Information Leaflet – Cardiovascular Disease: What Women Need To Know [Multiply Languages]
  98. World Stroke Day [29 October]
  99. Wrist Blood Pressure Monitors: Are They Accurate? High Blood Pressure

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Blood Pressure and Your Heart: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of High Blood Pressure? Last Updated: 12 May 2025 | Last Reviewed: 13 June 2024. Heart Foundation of Australia https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/Bundles/Your-heart/Blood-pressure-and-your-heart Accessed: 09 August 2025
  2. High Blood Pressure: About High Blood Pressure – Definition of Blood Pressure. 28 January 2025. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/high-blood-pressure/about/ Accessed: 09 August 2025
  3. High Blood Pressure – Causes and Symptoms: Blood Pressure and Hypertension Explained. Published: 01 March 2023. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/conditions/high-blood-pressure.aspx Accessed: 09 August 2025
  4. Hypertension. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/health-topics/hypertension#tab=tab_1 Accessed: 09 August 2025
  5. High Blood Pressure: What Is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension). Last Updated: 25 April 2024. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/high-blood-pressure Accessed: 09 August 2025
  6. High Blood Pressure: About High Blood Pressure – Definition of High Blood Pressure: What Is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)? 28 January 2025. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/high-blood-pressure/about/ Accessed: 09 August 2025
  7. Blood Pressure and Your Heart: High Blood Pressure – What Are the Signs and Symptoms of High Blood Pressure? Last Updated: 12 May 2025 | Last Reviewed: 13 June 2024. Heart Foundation of Australia https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/Bundles/Your-heart/Blood-pressure-and-your-heart Accessed: 09 August 2025
  8. High Blood Pressure–Understanding the Silent Killer: Who Is Affected By High Blood Pressure? Content Current As of: 11 April 2024. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/drugs/special-features/high-blood-pressure-understanding-silent-killer Accessed: 09 August 2025
  9. High Blood Pressure – Causes and Symptoms: Where To Measure or Check Your Blood Pressure. Published: 01 March 2023. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/high-blood-pressure Accessed: 09 August 2025
  10. High Blood Pressure – Causes and Symptoms: Causes of High Blood Pressure. Published: 01 March 2023. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/conditions/high-blood-pressure.aspx Accessed: 09 August 2025
  11. Alcohol: Does It Affect Blood Pressure? Does Drinking Alcohol Affect Blood Pressure? 16 October 2024. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/expert-answers/blood-pressure/faq-20058254 Accessed: 09 August 2025
  12. High Blood Pressure and Women: Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure and Menopause. American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/why-high-blood-pressure-is-a-silent-killer/high-blood-pressure-and-women Accessed: 09 August 2025
  13. Menopause and High Blood Pressure: What’s the Connection? Is There A Connection Between Menopause and High Blood Pressure? 19 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/expert-answers/menopause-and-high-blood-pressure/faq-20058406 Accessed: 09 August 2025
  14. High Blood Pressure–Understanding the Silent Killer: Why Is It Important To Know If You Have High Blood Pressure? Content Current As of: 11 April 2024. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/drugs/special-features/high-blood-pressure-understanding-silent-killer Accessed: 09 August 2025
  15. High Blood Pressure – Causes and Symptoms: Symptoms of High Blood Pressure. Published: 01 March 2023. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/high-blood-pressure#treatment Accessed: 09 August 2025
  16. High Blood Pressure: Managing High Blood Pressure – Creating A Care Plan With Your Health Care Team. 15 May 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/high-blood-pressure/living-with/index.html Accessed: 16 October 2024
Topic Last Updated: 09 August 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 09 August 2025

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