What the numbers mean
Blood pressure is written as two numbers, such as 128/82. The first (systolic) is the pressure when your heart beats. The second (diastolic) is the pressure between beats. Both matter.
| Reading | What it means |
|---|---|
| Below 90/60 | Low. Usually fine unless you feel dizzy or faint. |
| 90/60 to 120/80 | Ideal |
| 120/80 to 140/90 | Higher than ideal Worth making changes and checking again. |
| 140/90 or higher (135/85 or higher at home) | High See your GP or pharmacist. |
A reading of 180/120 or higher with chest pain, breathlessness, a severe headache, confusion or blurred vision: call 999. If you feel well, sit quietly for 5 minutes and measure again. If it’s still that high, contact your GP or call 111 the same day.
Why it matters
High blood pressure strains your heart and gradually damages the walls of your arteries, making it easier for fatty patches to form. Over years, it raises your risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease and vascular dementia. About one in three adults in the UK has high blood pressure, and many don’t know it.
Where to get a free check
How to measure it properly at home
- Use a validated upper-arm monitor.Wrist and finger monitors are less accurate. Make sure the cuff is the right size for your arm.
- Wait 30 minutes after caffeine, exercise or smoking.And empty your bladder first.
- Sit for 5 minutes first.Back supported, feet flat on the floor, legs uncrossed, arm resting on a table at heart height.
- Stay still and quiet.Don’t talk or look at your phone while it measures.
- Take two readings, a minute apart, morning and evening.Do this for 4 to 7 days and write them down. Your GP will use the average, ignoring the first day.
How to lower it
- Cut salt to less than 6g a day, about a teaspoon. Most salt is hidden in bread, cereals, ready meals, sauces and processed meat.
- Move more. Regular brisk walking lowers blood pressure within weeks.
- Drink less alcohol, no more than 14 units a week, spread out.
- Lose some weight if you’re overweight. Even a few kilograms helps.
- Eat more fruit and vegetables, and cut down on caffeine if you drink a lot.
- Stop smoking. It adds greatly to the damage high blood pressure does to your arteries.
Blood pressure medicines
If your blood pressure stays high, or your risk is high, you’ll usually be offered medicine as well. Taking it is not a failure. These are some of the most effective medicines in medicine.
| Type | Examples | Common side effects |
|---|---|---|
| ACE inhibitors | Ramipril, lisinopril | Dry cough |
| Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) | Losartan, candesartan | Dizziness |
| Calcium channel blockers | Amlodipine | Swollen ankles |
| Thiazide-like diuretics | Indapamide | Needing to wee more |
Which one you start on depends on your age, ethnicity and other conditions. If one gives you side effects, there’s almost always another to try, so tell your GP rather than stopping.
Sources
This page is based on the published guidance below. It was last updated on 30 September 2026. Read how we write our content, or email hello@chestpain.org.uk to report a mistake.