Tea, Talk and
Know Your Numbers
High blood pressure has no symptoms, yet it is one of the biggest preventable causes of stroke, heart attack and kidney disease in the UK. Five minutes with one of our team is all it takes — advice here follows NICE, British Heart Foundation and Patient UK guidance.
- Date
- Tuesday 8 September
- Time
- 09:30 – 16:30, drop in
- Where
- Clerkenwell Medical Practice
- Cost
- Free
Why it matters
Why come along?
Blood pressure is the pressure of blood in your arteries. If it stays too high and is left untreated, you are more at risk of a stroke or heart attack. It usually has no symptoms, so the only way to find out is to have a check.
1 in 3
adults in England has high blood pressure (NHS Health Survey).
140/90
mmHg or above in clinic is the NICE threshold for hypertension.
5 mins
of resting quietly, then a five-minute check. That is all.
Interactive
What do the numbers mean?
A reading is written like 140/90mmHg, said “140 over 90”. The first number is your systolic pressure, the second your diastolic. The bands below use the clinic thresholds in NICE guideline NG136. Home readings run about 5mmHg lower.
Already know your numbers from a home monitor? Move the sliders to see what they mean. This is a guide only — a proper diagnosis can only be given by a clinician.
Top number — when your heart pushes blood round your body
Bottom number — when your heart relaxes between beats
Your reading
138/86mmHg
Normal, but at the upper end
This is below the UK threshold for hypertension, but it is drifting up — sometimes called high-normal blood pressure.
Lifestyle changes make a real difference at this level. Have another check within a year, and sooner if you have other risk factors.
Diastolic (bottom number)
Who should come
A check is especially worthwhile if…
- You are 40 or over, or have not had a check in the last five years
- You have a family history of high blood pressure, heart attack or stroke
- You are of Black African, African-Caribbean or South Asian family background
- You are above a healthy weight, or are inactive most days
- You eat a lot of salty, processed or takeaway food
- You regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week
- You smoke, or have type 2 diabetes or kidney disease
- You are pregnant, or had raised blood pressure in pregnancy
Every registered adult is welcome. NICE advises a check at least every five years for adults, and more often if your reading is at the upper end of normal or you have other risk factors.
Step by step
What happens on the day
Small changes
How can I lower my blood pressure?
Lifestyle changes make a real difference, and some people also need medication as directed by their doctor.
Good to know
Common questions
Take five minutes with us on Tuesday 8 September
Clerkenwell Medical Practice · 09:30 – 16:30 · Free · Registered patients · No appointment needed