Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a common condition that increases the risk of serious health problems such as heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease. As hypertension often progresses without obvious symptoms, it is often referred to as the “silent killer”.
In Germany, around one in three adults suffers from high blood pressure, which corresponds to around 20 to 30 million people. As the risk of developing high blood pressure increases with age, as many as three out of four people over the age of 70 have high blood pressure.
If the pressure is too high, this can lead to serious damage to health in the long term. Elevated blood pressure is the cause of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure, making it the number one cause of death in Germany.
People with high blood pressure generally do not notice any symptoms, which is why screening is so important.
The diagnosis is based on:
We offer 24-hour long-term blood pressure measurements, but regular checks at home usually provide better information.
To measure your blood pressure correctly, you should follow a few important steps:
Measure your blood pressure twice a day - in the morning before you start your day and in the evening before you go to bed.
You should relax and calm down before the measurement. Do not carry out any other activities during the measurement and wait at least 30 minutes after physical exertion.
Sit relaxed on a chair with both feet flat on the floor. Place the cuff at heart level:
Take two measurements at least one minute apart and record the values of both measurements.
Keep a blood pressure diary. Document the readings for seven days, taking two readings in the morning and two in the evening. If you notice high values, discuss the findings with your doctor.
Here is the definition of hypertension according to the 2023 ESC guidelines:
| Category | Systolic (mmHg) | Diastolic (mmHg) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | 130 | and/or | 80 |
| High-normal | 130-139 | and/or | 85-89 |
| Hypertension Grade 1 | 140–159 | and/or | 90–99 |
| Hypertension Grade 2 | 160–179 | and/or | 100–109 |
| Hypertension Grade 3 | ≥ 180 | and/or | ≥ 110 |
| Isolated Systolic Hypertension | ≥ 140 | and/or | and < 90 |