Hypertension, more commonly referred to as high blood pressure, is considerably more common than you might think. It’s estimated that 40% of UK adults and about a third of American have high blood pressure.

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

The first number given is the Systolic pressure. This is the pressure which is measured whilst the heart is actually beating and blood is being pumped around the body. This is usually the higher of the two numbers.

Diastolic pressure is the pressure which is measured when the heart is at rest in between beats. This is the second number and is the lower of the two.

So if your told that your blood pressure is “120 over 80” by your doctor or a nurse, or you see 120/80 mmHg written in your medical file, it signifies that your systolic pressure is 120 millimetres of mercury and your diastolic pressure is 80 millimetres of mercury.

High blood pressure is usually defined as having a sustained blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher – although the definition may vary somewhat in certain countries.

There are often no symptoms of high blood pressure and it can go undetected for quite a while if you’re unlucky. It is often found during a routine medical examination or as a result of testing due to some other ailment. It is a major 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.

Your heart needs to work harder to pump the blood around your body when you have hypertension. Over a period of time this extra strain could damage your heart. The extra pressure can also damage the walls of the arteries, which could cause a blockage or cause the artery to rupture – a haemorrhage. Either one of these conditions could result in a stroke.

There is no single identifiable cause for high blood pressure in 95% of cases. However, the available evidence shows that, in addition to the patient’s age, lifestyle factors play an important role in determining your blood pressure. Poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, obesity and smoking are some of the risk factors which have been identfied.

Medication exists which can help to lower your blood pressure to acceptable levels – but, as with any medication there can be side effects. Unfortunately there will always be some unlucky patients who do not respond well to drugs. Relatively small modifications to your lifestyle, such as eating a healthier diet, lowering your alcohol intake, taking regular exercise, quitting smoking and losing a few pounds can be very effective in lowering your blood pressure.

Some people may also find that self hypnosis, meditation and other relaxation exercises are beneficial. In addition to these more conventional 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 devices such as Resperate are now commercially available to hypertension sufferers and offer an effective treatment without medication.

In summary, hypertension is more common than you may think and, due to its lack of clearly visible symptoms, you should have your blood pressure monitored by a medical professional on a regular basis. If you do discover that you have high blood pressure then you should be able to improve the situation by making some relatively simple lifestyle changes. Even if you are prescribed medication then the lifestyle changes will be helpful and will have other health benefits as well.