When I worked as a GP, I met many people with, or at risk of developing, high blood pressure. It is common, affecting over 50% of people aged over 60 years, and important to treat, as it is a risk factor for a number of other conditions including heart failure, coronary artery disease, stroke, chronic kidney disease and vascular dementia. Reducing high blood pressure helps reduce these health risks.
For those with high blood pressure, starting blood pressure lowering medication should be a shared decision between them and their healthcare professional and take into account factors such as how much blood pressure is raised, the presence of other medical conditions, and long-term risk of cardiovascular disease.
