Understanding Your Blood Pressure Numbers
Blood pressure is expressed as two numbers: systolic (the pressure when your heart beats) over diastolic (the pressure between beats). A reading below 120/80 mmHg is considered normal. Readings consistently above 130/80 mmHg are now classified as stage 1 hypertension under current guidelines, and above 140/90 mmHg as stage 2.
Hypertension is often called the “silent killer” because it produces no symptoms in most people — even at dangerously high levels. Regular monitoring is the only way to know your numbers. Home blood pressure monitors, available through pharmaceutical suppliers, make regular self-monitoring straightforward and accurate.
Antihypertensive Medications
There are five main classes of blood pressure medication, each working through a different mechanism:
- ACE inhibitors (e.g., ramipril, lisinopril) — Prevent the production of angiotensin II, which constricts blood vessels.
- ARBs (e.g., losartan, valsartan) — Block angiotensin II receptors; similar efficacy to ACE inhibitors with fewer side effects.
- Calcium channel blockers (e.g., amlodipine) — Relax arterial smooth muscle.
- Thiazide diuretics (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide) — Reduce fluid volume in the circulation.
- Beta-blockers (e.g., bisoprolol, atenolol) — Reduce heart rate and cardiac output.
Lifestyle Modifications That Work
For mild hypertension, lifestyle changes can be sufficient to normalise blood pressure without medication. The DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), regular aerobic exercise, sodium reduction (to under 2,300mg per day), weight loss, limiting alcohol, and stopping smoking each produce measurable reductions in blood pressure — and they compound when implemented together.
