AC 3.1 Long term conditions between different social groups.
High blood pressure
What is it?
Also known as hypertension
Can cause serious problems like heart attacks or strokes. Lifestyle changes and blood pressure
medicines can help to stay healthy.
Symptoms
Headaches
Blurred vision
Chest pain
What your blood pressure reading means.
Blood pressure readings are given as 2 numbers, with the 1st number higher than the 2nd (for example,
130/80).
If you're under 80 years of age, you're usually considered to have high blood pressure if your reading is
either:
o 140/90 or higher when checked by a healthcare professional
o 135/85 or higher when checked at home
If you're aged 80 or over, you're usually considered to have high blood pressure if your reading is
either:
o 150/90 or higher when checked by a healthcare professional
o 145/85 or higher when checked at home
How do you get it?
Being overweight
Age
Alcohol
Lack of exercise
Kidney disease
Smoking
High sodium intake
Stress
How is high blood pressure affected by social-economic group?
1. Access to Healthcare
Those in lower socioeconomic groups may have more difficulty accessing healthcare due to financial
barriers, lack of transportation, or long waiting times in publicly funded systems.
Delayed diagnosis and treatment can lead to worse disease progression.
2. Quality of Treatment and Outcomes
Wealthier individuals often have better access to private healthcare, specialist treatments, and
preventative care.
In contrast, lower-income groups may rely on overstretched public services, leading to disparities in
treatment quality and health outcomes.
3. Employment and Working Conditions
o People in lower-paying, manual, or precarious jobs are more likely to experience work-related
illnesses, injuries, and chronic pain conditions.
o Poor working conditions, including exposure to harmful substances or stress, contribute to long-term
health issues.
4. Mental Health
, Financial stress, job insecurity, and poor living conditions increase the likelihood of mental health
issues like depression and anxiety.
Lack of access to mental health support exacerbates these conditions, leading to a cycle of poor health
and economic hardship.
Statistics
Prevalence by Deprivation: After adjusting for age, hypertension prevalence varies by area deprivation, ranging
from 23% in the least deprived areas to 40% in the most deprived.
How can being male/female affect high-blood pressure?
1. Risk and Prevalence by Sex
Men
o More likely to develop high blood pressure at a younger age (before 55).
o Tend to have higher systolic blood pressure (the top number in a reading) in early to mid-life.
o Greater likelihood of developing complications like heart disease at an earlier age.
Women
o Have lower blood pressure than men before menopause due to the protective effects of
oestrogen.
o Risk increases significantly after menopause, and by age 65+, women are more likely to have
hypertension than men.
o More prone to developing isolated systolic hypertension (high top number, normal bottom
number) in later life.
2. Hormonal Influence
Oestrogen (Women)
o Oestrogen helps keep blood vessels flexible and promotes nitric oxide production, which
relaxes arteries.
o After menopause, oestrogen levels drop, leading to increased arterial stiffness and higher
blood pressure.
Testosterone (Men)
o Can contribute to higher blood pressure by increasing sodium retention and promoting arterial
stiffness.
o Some studies suggest testosterone may have protective effects in younger men but becomes a
risk factor later in life.
3. Lifestyle and Behavioural Differences
Men:
o More likely to engage in riskier behaviours such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption,
and high-sodium diets, which increase blood pressure.
o More likely to neglect routine health check-ups, leading to undiagnosed or untreated
hypertension.
Women:
o More likely to seek medical care and adhere to treatment plans.
o May experience different responses to high-salt diets compared to men, making salt restriction
particularly important.
4. Blood Pressure Medication Responses
Women and men can respond differently to antihypertensive medications:
High blood pressure
What is it?
Also known as hypertension
Can cause serious problems like heart attacks or strokes. Lifestyle changes and blood pressure
medicines can help to stay healthy.
Symptoms
Headaches
Blurred vision
Chest pain
What your blood pressure reading means.
Blood pressure readings are given as 2 numbers, with the 1st number higher than the 2nd (for example,
130/80).
If you're under 80 years of age, you're usually considered to have high blood pressure if your reading is
either:
o 140/90 or higher when checked by a healthcare professional
o 135/85 or higher when checked at home
If you're aged 80 or over, you're usually considered to have high blood pressure if your reading is
either:
o 150/90 or higher when checked by a healthcare professional
o 145/85 or higher when checked at home
How do you get it?
Being overweight
Age
Alcohol
Lack of exercise
Kidney disease
Smoking
High sodium intake
Stress
How is high blood pressure affected by social-economic group?
1. Access to Healthcare
Those in lower socioeconomic groups may have more difficulty accessing healthcare due to financial
barriers, lack of transportation, or long waiting times in publicly funded systems.
Delayed diagnosis and treatment can lead to worse disease progression.
2. Quality of Treatment and Outcomes
Wealthier individuals often have better access to private healthcare, specialist treatments, and
preventative care.
In contrast, lower-income groups may rely on overstretched public services, leading to disparities in
treatment quality and health outcomes.
3. Employment and Working Conditions
o People in lower-paying, manual, or precarious jobs are more likely to experience work-related
illnesses, injuries, and chronic pain conditions.
o Poor working conditions, including exposure to harmful substances or stress, contribute to long-term
health issues.
4. Mental Health
, Financial stress, job insecurity, and poor living conditions increase the likelihood of mental health
issues like depression and anxiety.
Lack of access to mental health support exacerbates these conditions, leading to a cycle of poor health
and economic hardship.
Statistics
Prevalence by Deprivation: After adjusting for age, hypertension prevalence varies by area deprivation, ranging
from 23% in the least deprived areas to 40% in the most deprived.
How can being male/female affect high-blood pressure?
1. Risk and Prevalence by Sex
Men
o More likely to develop high blood pressure at a younger age (before 55).
o Tend to have higher systolic blood pressure (the top number in a reading) in early to mid-life.
o Greater likelihood of developing complications like heart disease at an earlier age.
Women
o Have lower blood pressure than men before menopause due to the protective effects of
oestrogen.
o Risk increases significantly after menopause, and by age 65+, women are more likely to have
hypertension than men.
o More prone to developing isolated systolic hypertension (high top number, normal bottom
number) in later life.
2. Hormonal Influence
Oestrogen (Women)
o Oestrogen helps keep blood vessels flexible and promotes nitric oxide production, which
relaxes arteries.
o After menopause, oestrogen levels drop, leading to increased arterial stiffness and higher
blood pressure.
Testosterone (Men)
o Can contribute to higher blood pressure by increasing sodium retention and promoting arterial
stiffness.
o Some studies suggest testosterone may have protective effects in younger men but becomes a
risk factor later in life.
3. Lifestyle and Behavioural Differences
Men:
o More likely to engage in riskier behaviours such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption,
and high-sodium diets, which increase blood pressure.
o More likely to neglect routine health check-ups, leading to undiagnosed or untreated
hypertension.
Women:
o More likely to seek medical care and adhere to treatment plans.
o May experience different responses to high-salt diets compared to men, making salt restriction
particularly important.
4. Blood Pressure Medication Responses
Women and men can respond differently to antihypertensive medications:
