In brief
Blood pressure that is consistently more than 140/90 mmHg. About 1 in 3 Australian adults has it, and it usually causes no symptoms.
- healthdirect suggests no more than 2 standard drinks a day for males and 1 for females when managing blood pressure.
- Very high blood pressure can cause headaches, dizziness, nosebleeds or problems with eyesight.
- Long-lasting stress can affect your blood pressure, according to healthdirect.
How it works
Blood pressure is the force that keeps blood moving through your arteries. For most people the cause of high blood pressure is not known, but the risk is higher with little or no exercise, being overweight, a high-salt diet and drinking more alcohol than recommended. Kidney disease, sleep apnoea and some medicines can also cause it.
Most people with high blood pressure have no symptoms, so adults should have it checked at least every 2 years. Over time it raises the risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, chronic kidney disease, heart failure and eye conditions. Treatment includes regular activity, a healthy diet with less salt, losing weight if needed, limiting alcohol and stopping smoking, and medicines if lifestyle changes are not enough.
Connections
15 connections on the map. Select a topic to read its page.
High blood pressure can be raised by
- Chronic stress (allostatic load) Supported
Long-lasting stress can affect your blood pressure, according to healthdirect.
Source: healthdirect Australia, Stress
Drinking more alcohol than recommended raises the risk of high blood pressure. healthdirect suggests no more than 2 standard drinks a day for males and 1 for females.
Source: healthdirect Australia, High blood pressure (hypertension)
Being overweight or obese is a risk factor for high blood pressure.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, High blood pressure (hypertension); healthdirect Australia, Obesity
Too much sodium can cause high blood pressure, and a high-salt diet is a risk factor for it.
Sources: Better Health Channel (Victorian Government), Salt; healthdirect Australia, High blood pressure (hypertension)
A sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor for high blood pressure.
Source: healthdirect Australia, High blood pressure (hypertension)
High blood pressure can raise
Chronic kidney disease is one of the complications of high blood pressure.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, High blood pressure (hypertension); Kidney Health Australia, Chronic kidney disease
High blood pressure is a risk factor for stroke that can be controlled.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, Stroke; healthdirect Australia, High blood pressure (hypertension)
High blood pressure is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation.
High blood pressure affects
High blood pressure is a risk factor for coronary heart disease and heart attacks.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, Coronary heart disease; healthdirect Australia, High blood pressure (hypertension)
Chronic kidney disease is a complication of high blood pressure, according to healthdirect.
Source: healthdirect Australia, High blood pressure (hypertension)
High blood pressure can be lowered by
Regular physical activity is part of treating high blood pressure, and an inactive lifestyle raises the risk.
Source: healthdirect Australia, High blood pressure (hypertension)
Potassium reduces the effect of sodium on blood pressure.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, Potassium; Better Health Channel (Victorian Government), Salt
High blood pressure is linked with
Sleep apnoea is one cause of high blood pressure, and high blood pressure is a health risk of untreated sleep apnoea.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, High blood pressure (hypertension); healthdirect Australia, Obstructive sleep apnoea
High blood pressure can lead to
High blood pressure raises the risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, High blood pressure (hypertension); healthdirect Australia, Coronary heart disease
High blood pressure can cause
High blood pressure is one of the causes of heart failure.
Sources: Heart Foundation, What is heart failure?; healthdirect Australia, High blood pressure (hypertension)
Lab tests
Medicines and supplements
General education only. Never start, stop or change a medicine without your prescriber.
Sources
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Summarised from healthdirect. Sources read on 13 and 16 October 2026. General education only, not medical advice. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us through the HuBu-Intel contact page.