Summary

• 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.

These key facts are from healthdirect.gov.au (accessed 28 Jan 2025). Visit the healthdirect website for more information about high blood pressure.

Relevant Tests

If your doctor suspects you have high blood pressure, they may request one or more tests.

If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, some of these tests will be used to monitor and manage your condition.

Find information about specific tests:

• Kidney function tests
• Glucose
• Lipid profile