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Blood pressure recording advice

Read our guide below to understand what to do if you have high blood pressure.

You can also download a PDF version of this patient information by following the link on the right.

The reading taken before your outpatient appointment identified that your blood pressure is higher than recommended. This information will help you to get the right support to improve your blood pressure readings.

It will also help to minimise your risk of getting cardiovascular disease.

What is high blood pressure?

Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure is one of the key risk factors for cardiovascular disease. When blood pressure is high over a long period of time, it puts a strain on your heart, blood vessels and other organs.

Your blood pressure measurement is given as 2 numbers:

  • The first number indicates your systolic pressure – the pressure when your heart pushes blood out around your body
  • The second number indicates your diastolic pressure – the pressure when your heart rests between beats and blood is pushed around your heart

What do I need to do? *1

If your blood pressure reading today was between 140/90 and 180/120 or, if you are over 80 years old and it was between 150/90 and 180/120

  • Take regular blood pressure readings at home. You should take your blood pressure twice daily, morning and evening for a period of 7 days.
  • Record your readings and tell your GP about what actions we’ve advised you to take. Give your blood pressure readings to your GP who will then decide if any further actions are needed.

If your blood pressure reading today was 180/120 or higher

Attend the Urgent Treatment Centre at Wycombe Hospital or the Same Day Emergency Care unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital for further checks. Or make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible.

Urgent Treatment Centre

Wycombe Hospital, Near entrance 2, car park B.

8am to 8pm, 7 days a week

0300 033 9846

Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC)

Stoke Mandeville Hospital

The Same Day Emergency Centre is not a walk-in service. You’ll need a referral from the outpatient team.

Why have I been asked to take action following my blood pressure reading today?

Your blood pressure will usually need checking more than once to confirm a diagnosis of high blood pressure. This is because blood pressure can go up and down a lot during the day. When people have their blood pressure checked in the clinic it can be higher than expected, especially if they feel nervous or anxious.

Where can I get a blood pressure monitoring kit from?

If you’ve been advised to monitor your blood pressure at home, you can do this by borrowing a blood pressure monitoring kit. Library members can borrow these devices from:

If you don’t live in Buckinghamshire, please refer to your local library.

You can also buy a blood pressure machine. If you’re buying your own device the cheapest ones start from around £20 and are available in most pharmacies and larger supermarkets.

Make sure it’s UK approved and ideally validated by the British and Irish Hypertension society (BIHS). This means that it has gone through a series of tests to check it gives results that you can trust.

*1: NICE guideline [NG136] Published: 28 August 2019 Last updated: 21 November 2023

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