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High blood pressure

Often silent, but important to treat. Assessment, advice, and treatment that lowers risk.

Speak to a GP about high blood pressureFrom £79

In short

High blood pressure usually has no symptoms but quietly raises the risk of heart attack and stroke. It's very treatable with lifestyle changes and, where needed, medication, so getting it checked and managed matters.

Overview

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure (hypertension) means the pressure in your arteries is consistently too high. It usually causes no symptoms but, over time, increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and more. It's extremely common and very treatable, which is why diagnosing and managing it is so worthwhile.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

  • Usually no symptoms at all (which is why it's often found on a routine check)
  • Occasionally headaches
  • Rarely, nosebleeds or visual changes with very high readings
  • Most people feel completely well

When to act

When to see a doctor

Book a GP if you've had high readings, want your blood pressure assessed, or need your treatment reviewed. Call 999 for a very high reading with chest pain, breathlessness, severe headache, visual changes, or stroke symptoms.

When to seek urgent help

Seek urgent help if

  • A very high reading (e.g. 180/120 or above) with chest pain, breathlessness, severe headache, or visual changes (call 999)
  • Symptoms of a stroke: face drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech (call 999)
  • A severe, sudden headache unlike any before

Call 999 for life-threatening emergencies or NHS 111 for urgent non-emergency advice.

Treatment

How a private GP can help

  • Review of your readings, ideally home or ambulatory measurements
  • Assessment of your overall cardiovascular risk
  • Lifestyle advice (salt, weight, alcohol, exercise, smoking) that genuinely lowers blood pressure
  • Guidance on the blood and urine tests worth having
  • Prescription of blood pressure medication where appropriate, with follow-up
  • Referral for very high readings or suspected secondary causes

What we don't do

  • Emergency treatment of a hypertensive crisis or stroke (call 999)
  • Specialist investigation of secondary hypertension (referred on)

Pricing

What it costs

An online consultation about high blood pressure starts at £79 for a 20-minute video appointment. In-pharmacy consultations are £129 and home visits are £189. Your consultation includes one private prescription if appropriate, and a sick note for work if needed. You pay the pharmacy separately for any medication.

See full pricing breakdown

FAQ

Common questions about high blood pressure

How is high blood pressure diagnosed?
A single high reading isn't enough. Diagnosis usually uses several readings, often home monitoring over a week or 24-hour ambulatory monitoring, because blood pressure varies and clinic readings can be raised by anxiety.
Do I definitely need medication?
Not always. Mild elevation is often managed first with lifestyle changes. Medication is recommended based on your readings and your overall cardiovascular risk, and we'll discuss what's right for you.
Which lifestyle changes help most?
Reducing salt, losing excess weight, cutting alcohol, regular exercise, and stopping smoking all lower blood pressure and cardiovascular risk.
Can you prescribe repeat blood pressure medication?
We can review and prescribe privately, but long-term monitoring is best coordinated with your NHS GP, and with your consent we can write to keep them informed.
See all conditions we can help with

Ready to talk to a GP about high blood pressure?

Message Emily on WhatsApp or book online in under 90 seconds. UK-registered doctors, available today.

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7 days a week · 08:00–22:00 · WhatsApp or email