
Blood pressure measures the pressure of the blood in your arteries as the heart pumps it around your body. Blood pressure does not stay the same all the time; it is constantly changing to meet your needs.
If your blood pressure remains high, it may indicate the heart is working too hard, which may be caused by hardening or narrowing of the arteries, although other factors may play a role. Imagine a garden hose being squashed under a person’s foot or a car wheel. It greatly increases the pressure inside the hose, may cause damage to the hose and may reduce the supply the hose is delivering.
High blood pressure (hypertension) may be associated with serious health concerns, such as a heart attack, stroke, heart failure or kidney disease. There are often no outward symptoms, which is why it is important to have regular blood pressure checks.
Low blood pressure (hypotension) may be more common in women and may be associated with dizziness, fatigue, feeling weak whilst standing and needing to sit down or lie down.