However, England’s performance in terms of diagnosing and treating high blood pressure is still a long way off compared to what has been achieved in countries such as Canada and the US. The proportion of adults with untreated high blood pressure has decreased from 2003 to 2015 for both sexes (from 20% to 15% among men and from 16% to 10% among women). The Health Survey for England shows that the population average blood pressure in England has fallen over the last decade by almost 3mmHg systolic, though very little has changed over the last 3 years. Some progress has already been made in reducing the population’s levels of high blood pressure.

a significant 13% reduction in all-cause mortality.

a 17% reduction for coronary heart disease.

For example, a major systematic review in the Lancet found that in the populations studied, every 10mmHg reduction in blood pressure resulted in: There is robust evidence that action to lower blood pressure does reduce the risk to health. It can also increase the risk of chronic kidney disease, peripheral arterial disease, and vascular dementia. High blood pressure increases the risk of: High blood pressure is, however, the largest single known risk factor for cardiovascular disease and related disability. In the UK, high blood pressure is the third biggest risk factor for disease after tobacco smoking and poor diet. The Global Burden of Disease 2015 highlights that high blood pressure is the second biggest known global risk factor for disease after poor diet. Over 2.1 million people under the age of 45 had high blood pressure in England in 2015. High blood pressure doesn’t just happen to older adults.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence ( NICE) defines high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, as a clinic blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher and either a subsequent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring daytime average or home blood pressure monitoring average of 135/85 mmHg or higher.īlood pressure readings between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg are defined as high normal blood pressure. The normal or ideal adult blood pressure is considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg. The bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure - the lowest pressure in blood vessels in between heartbeats when the heart muscle relaxes. The top number is the systolic blood pressure - the highest pressure in blood vessels and happens when the heart contracts, or beats. Scale of the problem Defining high blood pressureīlood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury ( mmHg) and is recorded as 2 numbers usually written one above the other. This professional resource outlines how providers and commissioners can reduce the population average blood pressure through improved prevention, detection and management.

Blood pressure chart for seniors 2021