What Is Hypertension?
Blood pressure above 130/80 mmHg is considered hypertension. It damages blood vessels silently — often with no symptoms — until a heart attack or stroke occurs.
Home Monitoring Is Essential
Once-daily reading at home is more accurate than clinic readings (which can be elevated by white coat anxiety). Use a validated automatic BP monitor like Omron HEM-7120.
When to Measure
- Same time each day — morning, before medications
- After 5 minutes of quiet rest
- Bladder empty
- No coffee or smoking 30 minutes before
Lifestyle Changes That Work
- Reduce salt — limit to 5g per day
- Exercise — 30 minutes brisk walk daily
- Weight loss — every 1kg lost reduces BP by 1 mmHg
- Reduce alcohol — maximum 1 unit per day
- Quit smoking — smoking raises BP and damages vessels
- Manage stress — yoga, meditation, deep breathing
Medicines
If lifestyle changes are insufficient, Amlodipine 5mg is the most commonly prescribed first-line treatment. Take daily at the same time without fail.