Blood pressure test
Introduction
A blood pressure test is a simple way of checking if your blood pressure is too high or too low.
Blood pressure is the term used to describethe strength with whichyour blood pushes on the sides of your arteries as it's pumped around your body.
High blood pressure (hypertension) can put a strain on your arteries and organs, which can increase your risk of developing serious problems such as heart attacks and strokes .
Low blood pressure (hypotension) isn't usually as serious, although it can cause dizziness and fainting in some people.
A blood pressure test is the only way to find out if your blood pressure is too high or too low, because most people won't have any obvious symptoms. Having a test is easy and could save your life.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 30 Nov 2016
Introduction
Find out when to get your blood pressure tested, how the test is done, and what your result means.
When should I get my blood pressure tested?
You can ask for a blood pressure test if you're worried about your blood pressure at any point. You can get your blood pressure tested at a number of places, including: at your local GP surgery at
How blood pressure istested
Adevice called a sphygmomanometer will be used to measure your blood pressure. This usually consists of a stethoscope, arm cuff, pump and dial, although automatic devices thatuse sensors and have a d
Home blood pressure monitoring
Blood pressure tests can also be carried out at home using your own digital blood pressure monitor. This can give a better reflection of your blood pressure, as being tested in somewhere like a GP su
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
In some cases, your doctor may recommend 24-hour or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). This is where your blood pressure is tested automatically around every 30 minutes over a 24-hour perio
Understanding your blood pressure reading
Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and isgiven as two figures: systolic pressure the pressurewhen your heart pushes blood out diastolic pressure the pressure when your
Controlling yourblood pressure
If your blood pressure is found to be too high or too low,yourGP or the healthcare professional performing the test can advise you about ways to control it. This may involve: adoptinga healthy, bal
Subscribe
Ask the doctor
Rate this article
Find products