High blood pressure (hypertension)

Key facts When blood is pumped by the heart around the body, the pressure of the blood pushing against the walls of blood vessels changes. Your blood pressure changes throughout the day depending on many factors, including your general health and activity levels. If your blood pressure is consistently high, you may be at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and other medical problems. You can reduce your chance of having high blood pressure by maintaining a healthy diet, keeping active and avoiding smoking. Some people will need to take medicine to keep their blood pressure at healthy levels. On this page What is blood pressure? What is high blood pressure? Why do I need to know my blood pressure? What causes high blood pressure? What are the symptoms of high blood pressure? How is high blood pressure diagnosed? What is the treatment for high blood pressure? How can I prevent high blood pressure? Resources and support Related information on Australian websites What is blood pressure...