Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
High blood pressure is common. Most people do not feel ill, but if it is not treated it can cause serious health problems like heart attacks and strokes. The good news is it can be checked and treated easily. In West Yorkshire, more than 32,000 people still have blood pressure that is too high.
We have made these resources to help people understand, treat, and manage high blood pressure. They work alongside the new West Yorkshire Healthy Hearts Hypertension Guideline, which supports doctors, nurses, and pharmacists to provide the best care using the most up-to-date advice.
All resources can be accessed in the four category pages shown below. They are also available as a full list at the bottom of this page. All resources are available to download in Word or PDF. We also provide Easy Read versions which may help support people with learning disabilities, autism, or cognitive disabilities but many people will find them useful.
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Why is high blood pressure a problem?
- 1 in 3 adults in the UK has high blood pressure.
- 1 in 2 strokes and heart attacks are caused by high blood pressure.
- 1 in 2 people with high blood pressure don’t know they have it or are not getting treatment. That’s about 6 million people in the UK.
- High blood pressure costs the NHS £2.1 billion every year.
If it is not treated, high blood pressure can lead to:
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Dementia
- Poor blood flow in your legs
- Problems with erections in men
Where can I get my blood pressure checked?
- Most pharmacies (chemists)
- Some workplaces
- As part of an NHS Health Check
- At home with a blood pressure monitor
It is quick, free and does not hurt.
Full list of patient resources
- Patient information - high blood pressure explained (PDF)
- Patient information - high blood pressure explained (Microsoft Word)
- Patient information - an introduction to a healthy lifestyle (PDF)
- Patient information - an introduction to a healthy lifestyle (Microsoft Word)
- Patient information - blood pressure monitoring (PDF)
- Patient information - blood pressure monitoring (Microsoft Word)
- Patient information - blood pressure seven day monitoring form (PDF)
- Patient information - healthy eating and blood pressure
- Patient information - healthy eating and blood pressure
- Patient information - being active and blood pressure (PDF)
- Patient information - being active and blood pressure (Microsoft Word)
- Easy read - what is high blood pressure and how to record it (PDF)
- Easy read - blood pressure seven day monitoring form (Microsoft Word)
- Patient information - smoking and blood pressure (PDF)
- Patient information - smoking and blood pressure (Microsoft Word)
- Patient information - blood pressure, mental health and stress (PDF)
- Patient information - blood pressure, mental health and stress (Microsoft Word)
- Patient information - high blood pressure and pregnancy (PDF)
- Patient information - high blood pressure and pregnancy (Microsoft Word)
- Patient information - high blood pressure and stroke (PDF)
- Patient information - high blood pressure and stroke (Microsoft Word)
- Patient information - high blood pressure and managing your weight (PDF)
- Patient information - high blood pressure and managing your weight (Microsoft Word)
- Patient information - blood pressure and kidney disease (PDF)
- Patient information - blood pressure and kidney disease (Microsoft Word)
- Patient information - high blood pressure and diabetes (Microsoft Word)
- Patient information - high blood pressure and diabetes (PDF)
- Patient information - Health care professionals that can help (PDF)
- Patient information - Health care professionals that can help (Microsoft Word)
- Patient information - Seeing a heart doctor for the first time (PDF)
- Patient information - Seeing a heart doctor for the first time (Microsoft Word)
- Patient information - information for those with learning disabilities (PDF)
- Patient information - information for those with learning disabilities (Microsoft Word)
Easy read versions
- Easy read - help with high blood pressure
- Easy read - looking after your blood pressure
- Easy read - healthy eating and blood pressure
- Easy read - moving your body helps your heart
- Easy read - smoking, your heart and blood pressure
- Easy read - your feelings stress and your heart
- Easy read - high blood pressure, pregnancy and other condition
- Easy read - getting ready to talk about your health
- Easy read - help with appointments
- Easy read - going to see a heart doctor