Introduction to hypertension and blood pressure reduction

The relationship between blood pressure (BP) and risk of cardiovascular events (stroke, myocardial infarction and other vascular complications), heart failure and kidney failure is continuous. Epidemiological studies report increased mortality from elevated BP at any level of systolic BP above 115 mmHg.

Treatment of elevated BP is generally life long, so before starting drug therapy, it is essential to confirm that BP elevation is sustained—see Measurement of blood pressure. It is also important to confirm that elevated BP is not secondary to a treatable problem—see Secondary hypertension.

Patients with severely elevated BP associated with life-threatening complications such as aortic dissection, or myocardial or cerebral ischaemia, must be treated urgently—see Urgent control of elevated blood pressure.

Elevated BP in children requires specialist evaluation and treatment because it is likely due to a secondary cause.

For patient information about the management of BP, see the Heart Foundation website.