Blood pressure numbers can look alarming when you see them on a screen. Most raised readings are not an emergency, but some do need prompt medical advice. This guide explains what the numbers mean, when to call for help, and how to get useful home readings.
Quick Answer
If you have symptoms such as chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe breathlessness, collapse, or new confusion, seek urgent help. If you are well but your blood pressure is repeatedly high, book a GP, nurse or pharmacy review.
A single high reading is often less helpful than a set of careful readings taken at home over several days.
What Do The Numbers Mean?
Blood pressure is written as two numbers, for example 138/86.
The pressure when your heart squeezes blood around the body.
The pressure when your heart relaxes between beats.
A reading at the GP surgery, pharmacy or clinic is usually considered high from this level.
Home readings are usually a little lower, so the threshold is lower too. We usually look at the average, not one reading.
Blood pressure naturally changes through the day. It can rise with stress, pain, caffeine, exercise, rushing around, or feeling anxious while it is being checked.
Where Can I Get My Blood Pressure Checked?
There are several good options. The best one depends on whether this is a routine check, a repeated raised reading, or part of diagnosing high blood pressure.
If you are aged 40 or over and have not had your blood pressure checked for several years, a routine check is sensible even if you feel completely well.
When Should I Call For Help?
This is the bit people most want to know. A traffic-light approach can help.
Call 999 now
Call 999 if high blood pressure is happening with symptoms that could mean a heart attack, stroke, or another emergency.
- Chest pain that is not going away
- Face drooping, arm weakness, or speech problems
- Severe shortness of breath
- New confusion, collapse, or severe drowsiness
- Chest pain with sweating, sickness, light-headedness, or pain spreading to the arm, jaw, neck or back
Seek same-day advice
If your reading is around 180/120 or higher, sit quietly and repeat it after a few minutes. If it remains very high, seek same-day medical advice, especially if you have symptoms.
- New or severe headache
- Blurred vision or visual changes
- Chest pain that comes and goes
- Feeling very unwell or worried by the reading
NHS 111 can help if you are unsure what level of care you need.
Book a routine review
If you feel well but your readings are repeatedly raised, arrange a GP, nurse, or pharmacy blood pressure review.
- Home average around 135/85 or above
- Clinic reading around 140/90 or above
- You are over 40 and have not had a check for several years
- You have diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, or a strong family history
How To Check Blood Pressure At Home
Home readings are often more useful than one rushed reading in a surgery or pharmacy.
Feet flat, back supported, arm supported, cuff on bare skin. Rest quietly for five minutes.
Take two readings at least one minute apart. Do not talk while the machine is measuring.
Measure morning and evening for at least four days, ideally seven days.
Ignore day one if you can, then average the remaining readings to guide the decision.
Use an upper-arm machine with the right cuff size if possible. Wrist machines are more sensitive to position and can be less reliable.
Why Does High Blood Pressure Matter?
High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. That is why it can be missed for years.
Over time, extra pressure inside the blood vessels can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, kidney disease, and vascular dementia. The good news is that treating blood pressure reduces those risks.
Estimated UK adults with high blood pressure.
UK adults may have high blood pressure without knowing it.
Of heart attacks and strokes in the UK are associated with high blood pressure.
Cardiovascular deaths each year in the UK are linked to high blood pressure.
These figures come from the British Heart Foundation's January 2026 UK Cardiovascular Disease Factsheet.
Put simply: healthy blood pressure protects the pipes that supply your brain, heart, kidneys and eyes. It is one of the most powerful things we can measure and improve before damage happens.
What Will The GP Or Pharmacist Do?
They will usually want to confirm whether your blood pressure is truly high, rather than reacting to one reading. This may involve home readings or a 24-hour blood pressure monitor.
They may also check your urine, kidney function, cholesterol, diabetes risk, and overall cardiovascular risk. Sometimes an ECG is arranged, depending on your situation.
Treatment might involve lifestyle changes, medication, or both. Medication is more likely if readings are very high, if your overall risk is high, or if blood pressure stays raised despite lifestyle changes.
What About Medication?
Medication is not a failure. It is one of the tools we use to protect the heart, brain and kidneys when blood pressure is high enough to increase future risk.
Your clinician may suggest tablets if your blood pressure is very high, if your overall cardiovascular risk is raised, if you already have conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease or stroke, or if lifestyle changes have not brought readings down enough.
Different tablets work differently
Common blood pressure medicines include ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers and thiazide-like diuretics. The best choice depends on your age, background, other conditions, blood tests and side effects.
Steady protection
Blood pressure tablets do not usually make you feel different day to day. Their job is to reduce pressure inside the blood vessels over years, lowering the chance of stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney damage.
Most people start with one tablet and review readings and blood tests. Some people need more than one medicine, because combining lower doses can work better and sometimes cause fewer side effects than pushing one tablet higher.
What Can Help Lower Blood Pressure?
Lifestyle medicine matters here. Small changes can make a measurable difference, and they work alongside tablets if tablets are needed.
Daily habits that help
- Reducing salt
- Regular physical activity
- Limiting alcohol
- Stopping smoking
- Improving sleep and stress recovery
Checks that help
- Home blood pressure average
- Cholesterol and diabetes checks
- Kidney function and urine testing
- Medication review if already taking tablets
- Cardiovascular risk calculation
Five Things To Remember
- High blood pressure usually has no symptoms.
- A home average is more useful than one isolated reading.
- Clinic blood pressure is usually considered high from 140/90; home average from 135/85.
- Very high readings around 180/120 or above need prompt advice, especially with symptoms.
- Chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe breathlessness, collapse, or new confusion are emergencies: call 999.
Dr Mel's Notebook
Did you know?
Feeling well does not rule out high blood pressure. Most people with high blood pressure do not feel any different.
Try this today
If you have a home monitor, take two readings morning and evening for seven days. Bring the numbers, not just your memory of them, to your review.
The evidence
NICE recommends confirming raised clinic readings with home or ambulatory monitoring, and using the average readings to guide diagnosis and treatment.
Useful Sources
NICE NG136: Hypertension in adults, diagnosis and management
Last updated: 9 July 2026