Most people with hypertension feel perfectly well, which is why a regular reading matters more than waiting for symptoms. How often you should check your blood pressure depends on your age, your health and your past readings, and the answer for someone in good health differs from the answer for someone already on treatment. This article explains the recommended timing, what your two numbers mean, how to prepare for an accurate reading and when to follow up with your GP. Your Community Pharmacy in Newport offers a free blood pressure check with no appointment, which makes the routine easier to keep.
Key Takeaways
- Adults aged 18 and over should have their blood pressure checked at least every 2 years, or more often if advised.
- About 1 in 3 Australian adults has high blood pressure, and most have no symptoms.
- Readings consistently 140/90 mmHg or higher are in the high range and worth following up with your GP.
- Resting first and avoiding caffeine and smoking for 30 minutes beforehand helps give an accurate reading.
- Blood pressure checks at Your Community Pharmacy are free and walk-in.
How often to check blood pressure, and why it matters
Blood pressure is the force your heart uses to pump blood around your body. When it stays too high, it puts extra strain on your arteries and heart. About 1 in 3 Australian adults has high blood pressure, according to healthdirect, and a reading is the only reliable way to know.
Left unchecked, high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke, heart failure and chronic kidney disease. The earlier it is found, the sooner you and your doctor can manage it with lifestyle changes, medicine or both.
Recommended checks by age and health
Healthdirect’s advice on how often to check blood pressure is that Australian adults should have it checked by their doctor at least every 2 years. That is the minimum for an adult with normal readings.
A Heart Health Check with your GP, which looks at blood pressure alongside other risk factors, is available from:
- Age 45 for most people who have not been diagnosed with heart disease
- Age 35 if you have diabetes
- Age 30 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, or are starting or changing medicine, your doctor may want readings more often, and if you are unsure what applies in your own situation, ask your GP or the pharmacist. If you live with diabetes, regular diabetes monitoring and blood pressure checks work well together.
Walk in for a free blood pressure check during opening hours, with no appointment needed.
What your blood pressure numbers mean
A reading has two numbers, for example 120/80 mmHg. The first, the systolic pressure, is the pressure as your heart pumps blood through your arteries. The second, the diastolic pressure, is the pressure in your arteries when your heart relaxes between beats.
Healthdirect groups adult readings like this:
- Optimal: less than 120/80
- Normal: 120 to 129 over 80 to 84
- High normal: 130 to 139 over 85 to 89
- High: consistently 140/90 mmHg or higher
Your blood pressure changes through the day with activity and general health, so one high reading is not a diagnosis. If your numbers sit in the high range, see your GP, who may arrange more readings or other tests to confirm it.
What happens at a pharmacy blood pressure check
At Your Community Pharmacy you walk in during opening hours:
- You sit quietly for a few minutes, because stress or recent activity can raise a reading for a short time
- A cuff on your upper arm takes the reading
- The pharmacist shares your reading and explains what the numbers mean
- You talk through the next step, whether that is checking again later or seeing your GP
Our article on check costs compares the pharmacy, GP and home options. The pharmacy’s other free health checks include blood glucose screening and a stroke risk assessment.
How to prepare for an accurate reading
A few steps help make sure the number reflects your usual blood pressure:
- Empty your bladder first, as a full bladder can raise your blood pressure
- Avoid caffeine and smoking for 30 minutes beforehand
- Sit and relax for about 5 minutes with your feet flat and your back supported
- Wear a top that lets the cuff sit on your bare upper arm
Lifestyle changes that help keep blood pressure healthy
Many of the things that influence blood pressure are within your control. Healthdirect lists these changes:
- Doing regular physical activity
- Stopping smoking
- Eating a healthy diet and reducing your salt intake
- Losing weight if you are overweight
- Limiting alcohol
Changes like these are easier with support. You can talk through your goals with the pharmacist through weight management support. For anyone already on tablets, a medication review looks at how blood pressure medicines sit alongside everything else you take, while a Webster Pak keeps morning and evening doses in order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the blood pressure check really free?
Yes. The blood pressure check at Your Community Pharmacy is free, with an in-store reading and a chat with the pharmacist about the result.
What should I do if my blood pressure is high?
Talk to the pharmacist about the reading and make an appointment with your GP, who can confirm it with more readings and talk about treatment. Very high blood pressure can cause symptoms such as a headache at the back of the head, vomiting, problems with your eyesight, confusion, seizures, chest pain or shortness of breath. If you have any of these, call triple zero (000) or go to your nearest emergency department.
Should I check my blood pressure at home?
It can help, especially if your doctor has asked for home readings. Healthdirect’s home monitoring advice describes measuring twice a day, morning and evening, for 7 days (at least 5), using a validated automatic monitor with an upper-arm cuff.
When is the pharmacy open for a walk-in check?
Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm. The pharmacy is closed on Sunday. Directions and contact details are on our contact page.
Making blood pressure checks part of your routine
In summary: every 2 years at minimum for most adults, a Heart Health Check from the recommended age, and more often if your doctor asks. A quick pharmacy reading between GP visits helps you notice changes early.
Drop into Your Community Pharmacy in Newport for a free, walk-in blood pressure check.