High blood pressure: when does it get dangerous?
The treacherous thing about high blood pressure is not that it hurts. It is that it does not.
Why you notice nothing, and why that is the problem
High blood pressure typically causes no symptoms at all, often over years. Contrary to a widespread assumption, headaches, a red face or nosebleeds are not reliable signs.
That is where the risk lies. While you feel completely normal, the heart is working against too much resistance and the vessel walls are under lasting strain. The consequences only show up later: in the heart, the brain, the kidneys and the eyes.
So the only reliable way to know is by measuring.
Which values count?
Blood pressure is given as two numbers. The upper value arises when the heart pumps, the lower one when it relaxes between two beats. At the pharmacy or the doctor’s practice one speaks of high blood pressure from 140/90 mmHg, and for self-measurement at home from 135/85 mmHg.
| Where it is measured | From here one speaks of high blood pressure |
|---|---|
| Practice or pharmacy | 140/90 mmHg |
| Self-measurement at home | 135/85 mmHg |
The home values are lower because at home the tension is missing that gets measured along with everything else at the practice. This effect has a name, “white coat hypertension”, and it is the reason why a single raised value with us is not yet a diagnosis.
A single high value means little in any case. Blood pressure fluctuates over the day, after coffee, after climbing stairs, when you are annoyed. It only becomes meaningful over several measurements on different days.
How do you measure correctly?
Most incorrect readings come from the situation, not from the device. Five points make the difference:
- Stay seated for five minutes before you measure. Not straight after climbing the stairs or after a phone call.
- Back supported, feet flat on the floor, legs not crossed.
- Cuff on the bare upper arm, not over a jumper, and at heart height.
- Do not speak during the measurement, and do not listen either.
- Measure twice, with a minute’s pause, and note the second value.
Wrist devices work, but they are more sensitive to posture. If you use one, the wrist has to be at heart height. Do bring your device in some time and we will compare it with ours.
Worth knowing
Keep a record morning and evening for a week before you go to the doctor. That list is worth more for the assessment than any single measurement at the practice.
From the counter
The cuff is in the wrong place, and the measurement is not taken at rest. Two simple things that shift the value before you have even read it.
When you have to act immediately
There is one exception to the rule that high blood pressure causes no symptoms: when the pressure suddenly rises sharply. Then symptoms can appear, and then time matters.
Seek medical help immediately if very high values occur together with:
- chest pain or a feeling of tightness
- breathing difficulty
- sudden visual disturbances
- speech disturbances, signs of paralysis, numbness on one side
- severe, unfamiliar headache with nausea or confusion
If there are signs of a stroke, call 144. Do not wait, do not drop into the pharmacy first, do not “see whether it goes away by itself”.
What you can influence yourself
Not everything can be influenced: age and family predisposition stay as they are. The rest is surprisingly accessible.
- Salt. Most salt intake comes from bread, cheese, cured meats and ready meals. Reducing there achieves considerably more than going without adding salt at the table.
- Exercise. Regular endurance exercise lowers blood pressure measurably. It does not have to be a training plan; brisk walking is enough.
- Weight. Even a few kilos less has an effect.
- Alcohol. Regularly underestimated as a factor.
- Smoking. Every cigarette drives the pressure up in the short term, and in the long term it damages the vessels as well.
- Sleep. Sleep apnoea is a common and commonly overlooked cause of high blood pressure that is hard to control. If you snore loudly and are tired during the day, do raise it.
If medication has been prescribed, the most important point is regularity. Blood pressure medicines work as long as you take them. Stopping them because the values are good is like closing the umbrella because you are staying dry. Blister packing helps with that when several preparations come together.
Important
Never stop prescribed blood pressure medication on your own initiative and do not change the dose yourself. If you notice side effects, talk to us or to your doctor; there are almost always alternatives.
Where you can have it measured
With us you measure without an appointment. It takes a few minutes, costs you nothing but the time, and we put the value in context for you. If it is unusual, we tell you whether a check is enough or whether it belongs with a doctor.
If you want it more precisely, combine it with a health check: blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and the inflammation marker CRP in one round, measured on the spot and discussed with you directly.
From the counter
From my own experience I understand patients well. Depending on the family history, high blood pressure is an important factor for what happens next. A small change of lifestyle and eating consciously can already influence blood pressure well, together of course with the right medication.
As of July 2026. Threshold values according to the current recommendations of the Swiss Heart Foundation.
Managing director and qualified pharmacy technician, with further training in biochemistry according to Dr Schuessler and the Bach flower training of the Bach Centre. A training supervisor and examination expert – anyone who wants to do their apprenticeship with us is guided by her.
Professionally reviewed by our qualified pharmacists. This article does not replace a medical diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions about high blood pressure
From what age should I have my blood pressure checked?
From forty at the latest a regular check is worthwhile, earlier if there is a family history. Anyone who is healthy and has normal values gets a long way with one measurement a year.
My reading was high once. Do I have high blood pressure now?
No. A diagnosis rests on repeated measurements on different days, not on one value. Measure at home for a week and bring the list along.
What does the lower value mean?
It shows the pressure during the heart's relaxation phase. An isolated raised lower value occurs above all in younger people and should be investigated just as much as a raised upper one.
Can I take blood pressure medication in the evening instead of the morning?
That depends on the preparation and on your situation. Ask before you switch; it is a sensible question and we are glad to answer it.
Is low blood pressure dangerous?
Low blood pressure without symptoms is usually unproblematic. If your vision goes black when you stand up or you become dizzy, we should talk about it.
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Blood pressure without an appointment, and we put the value in context for you. Just drop by.