Medical tests

Your GP can carry out a whole range of tests to diagnose high blood pressure which help him or her formulate a treatment plan for you. These tests also enable your GP to see what effect your high blood pressure is having on the rest of your body, e.g. your heart.

Your high blood pressure is unique to you so your GP will want to devise a course of treatment which will help to lower that and maintain that level. This means choosing the right type of medication and recommending a few lifestyle changes as well.

Bear in mind that these changes are for the duration. In other words you will have to make some permanent changes to the way you live. These may include losing weight, eating more healthily, taking exercise or stopping smoking.

These are discussed in more detail in our treating high blood pressure section.

Whatever tests you undergo, the results of those will determine your programme of treatment.

These tests include:

• Blood test
• Urine test
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Echocardiogram
• Eye test
• 24 hour ambulatory monitoring

Some of these tests will be familiar to you, e.g. blood test whereas others less so. Visit any of them in turn to find out more about what the test is and how it works.