What is high blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the force your blood exerts on the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps. It’s recorded as two numbers — systolic (the pressure when your heart beats) over diastolic (the pressure when it rests between beats). A reading of 120/80 mmHg is considered normal.
High blood pressure (hypertension) is when those numbers are consistently elevated. Over time, this extra pressure damages blood vessel walls, forcing your heart to work harder and putting strain on your kidneys, brain, and eyes.
| Category | Systolic | Diastolic | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Below 120 | Below 80 | All good |
| Elevated | 120–129 | Below 80 | Worth monitoring |
| Stage 1 hypertension | 130–139 | 80–89 | Lifestyle changes needed |
| Stage 2 hypertension | 140 or higher | 90 or higher | Treatment required |
| Hypertensive crisis | 180 or higher | 120 or higher | Seek emergency care |
Why it usually has no symptoms
Most people with high blood pressure feel completely fine. There’s no headache, no dizziness, no warning sign. That’s exactly what makes it dangerous — the damage accumulates silently over years while you go about your normal life.
By the time symptoms do appear — like a severe headache, blurred vision, or chest pain — blood pressure is usually dangerously high and has likely been causing harm for some time. This is why regular checks matter so much, even when you feel perfectly well.
What are the risks if it’s left untreated?
Stroke
High blood pressure is the single biggest risk factor for stroke in Australia
Heart attack
Damages coronary arteries over time, increasing the risk of blockage
Kidney disease
The kidneys rely on healthy blood vessels — high pressure causes progressive damage
Vision loss
Can damage the tiny blood vessels in the retina, leading to vision problems
Dementia
Sustained high blood pressure in midlife is linked to increased dementia risk
Heart failure
The heart muscle weakens over time from working harder than it should
What causes high blood pressure?
For most people there’s no single identifiable cause — it develops gradually over time due to a mix of factors. Things that increase your risk include:
- Age — blood pressure tends to rise as you get older
- Being overweight or obese
- A diet high in salt and low in fruit and vegetables
- Not being physically active
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Smoking
- Family history of hypertension
- Chronic stress
- Underlying conditions like kidney disease, thyroid disorders, or sleep apnoea
In some cases — particularly in younger people — high blood pressure is caused by an underlying medical condition. Your GP will check for these as part of your assessment.
Managing blood pressure with lifestyle changes
For elevated or Stage 1 hypertension, lifestyle changes alone can often bring blood pressure back into the normal range. Even for people on medication, these changes make the medication work better and may reduce the dose needed over time.
🧂 Reduce salt intake
Aim for less than 5g of salt per day. The biggest culprits are processed foods, bread, and takeaway — not just the salt you add at the table.
🏃 Get moving
Aim for 150 minutes of moderate activity per week. Even 30 minutes of brisk walking most days can make a meaningful difference to your numbers.
🥦 Eat well
A diet rich in vegetables, fruit, wholegrains, and lean protein helps lower blood pressure. The DASH diet is specifically designed for this and has strong evidence behind it.
🍺 Limit alcohol
Alcohol raises blood pressure. Stick to the Australian guidelines — no more than 10 standard drinks per week, and no more than 4 on any single day.
🚬 Stop smoking
Every cigarette causes a temporary spike in blood pressure, and long-term smoking compounds cardiovascular risk significantly. Your GP can help with quitting.
⚖️ Manage your weight
Even modest weight loss — 5 to 10% of body weight — can meaningfully reduce blood pressure. Your GP or our onsite dietitian can help put a plan together.
What about medication?
For Stage 2 hypertension, or where lifestyle changes haven’t been enough, medication is usually needed. There are several classes of blood pressure medications and they work in different ways. Most people end up on one or two, and for many patients the right combination is very effective with minimal side effects.
Starting medication doesn’t mean you’re on it forever — some people are able to reduce or stop medication after sustained lifestyle changes bring their blood pressure down. Your GP will review this with you regularly.
Never stop blood pressure medication without talking to your GP first. Blood pressure can rebound quickly and dangerously if medication is stopped suddenly.
When to seek urgent help
- A severe headache that comes on suddenly
- Blurred or double vision
- Chest pain or shortness of breath
- Sudden weakness or numbness in your face, arm, or leg
- Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
- A blood pressure reading above 180/120 mmHg
What can our GPs do?
Managing blood pressure is one of the most common things GPs do. At Southport Metro we can:
- Check your blood pressure in clinic — takes less than 5 minutes
- Set up home blood pressure monitoring if needed for a more accurate picture
- Order blood tests to check for kidney function, cholesterol, and diabetes — all related risk factors
- Prescribe and review blood pressure medications
- Refer you to our onsite dietitian for a personalised nutrition plan
- Develop a chronic disease management plan if you have multiple health conditions
- Coordinate with specialists if needed
- Complete your Heart Health Check — a Medicare-funded assessment for eligible patients
Related services at our clinic
When did you last have your blood pressure checked?
It takes less than 5 minutes and could be one of the most important things you do this year. Open 7 days at Australia Fair Metro, Southport.