lifebyvalue

Guides / Evidence grade: A

Measure your blood pressure; treat to target if it is high

By The lifebyvalue team. Sources last checked: October 2026.

High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. Home readings over several days are more useful than 'I feel fine'.

What the evidence says

A 2016 Lancet meta-analysis of blood-pressure-lowering trials (Ettehad et al.) found that each roughly 10 mmHg drop in systolic pressure was linked to about 20% fewer major cardiovascular events (RR about 0.80), about 27% fewer strokes (RR about 0.73), about 28% less heart failure (RR about 0.72) and about 13% lower all-cause death (RR about 0.87).

Evidence grade: A: randomized trials, meta-analysis. See how we grade evidence.

What to do

Use a validated home monitor and take readings on multiple days. Make decisions about medication together with a clinician. Do not stop prescribed treatment because you feel fine.

Where rules differ

Targets differ slightly between guidelines (ACC/AHA, NICE, ESC). This is not a prescription.

Sources

Not medical, legal or financial advice. This page is general information. Talk to a qualified professional about your own situation. Emergency: 911 (US), 999 (UK), 112 (EU). Crisis support: 988 (US), Samaritans 116 123 (UK).

Attribution and licence

Adapted from HowToLiveBetter by eternity4719, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Changes were made: translated, condensed and re-checked against the English-language sources listed above for a US/UK/EU audience.