Blood pressure can be a silent cause of major diseases
- ERD
- Mar 10
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 10
What Is Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure (BP) refers to the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood around your body.
A blood pressure reading has two numbers:
Systolic (top number): the pressure when your heart contracts and pumps blood
Diastolic (bottom number): the pressure when your heart relaxes between beats
Both numbers help your doctor understand how well your cardiovascular system is working.
Have an understanding of the various BP Ranges and what they mean:
Keeping Your Blood Pressure in Check
High blood pressure (also called hypertension) is very common, but many people don’t realise they have it. Because it often has no obvious symptoms, it can quietly increase the risk of serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease if left untreated.
The good news is that when detected early, high blood pressure can often be managed successfully, sometimes with lifestyle changes alone. When medication is needed, starting treatment early can help prevent more serious complications later.
What Can Cause High Blood Pressure?
Several factors can contribute to elevated blood pressure, including:
A GP can help determine the possible causes and discuss the best way to manage them.
How Do I Know If I Have High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure is often called the “silent condition” because it can cause damage without noticeable symptoms. The only way to know for sure is to have your blood pressure checked.
For most adults over 18 years old, it is recommended to check your blood pressure at least every two years.
In some cases, a GP may ask you to monitor your blood pressure at home using a validated monitor and keep a 5–7 day blood pressure diary.
This can provide a clearer picture of your usual blood pressure levels.
Heart Health Checks
Most GPs offer a range of services to help you stay on top of your cardiovascular health, including:
Routine blood pressure checks
Medicare-funded Heart Health Checks for eligible patients
Personalised cardiovascular risk assessments
Lifestyle advice and support
Ongoing monitoring and medication management if required
If you are 45 years or older (or 30 years and older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) and have no history of heart disease, you may be eligible for a Medicare-subsidised Heart Health Check.
This 20-minute appointment assesses your risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next five years and helps identify steps you can take to reduce your risk.
If you would like to book in for a Heart Check, call 02 9888 1083 or book online:
East Ryde Doctors extends sincere thanks to Dr. Sanjev Krishnamohan for his valuable contribution and professional insights throughout this article.
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