For you, or for someone you care for — a parent, a partner.
Most people are handed a single number — "get it under 130" — as if there's one right answer for everyone. There isn't. The target is a decision with a spread, and how old you are and how steady you are on your feet move it. Aiming lower can prevent a few more strokes; it can also mean more dizziness, faints and falls. This page shows you that trade so you can pick the right target with your GP — not just be told one.
This helps you prepare a conversation — it can't tell if your blood pressure is dangerous right now. If you feel unwell, call 000 or your GP.
Dr HB Lo
Integrative GP · Blood pressure target — decision aid
Your inputs
The decision
Blood pressure targets in pregnancy (or under 18) are a different conversation — please raise it directly with your GP or midwife. The age-band guidance below doesn't apply in those situations.
The trade, side by side
Aiming for a tighter target (≈120)
What it buys
about 1–2 in 100 spared a major heart or stroke event over ≈3 years that the standard target didn't.
Aiming for a standard target (≈140)
What aiming tighter costs
a handful more in 100 left with dizziness, faints, kidney strain, or salt/potassium dips when aiming tighter instead of the standard target.
spared a heart or stroke event (filled circle) added a side effect — dizziness, faint, kidney or salt/potassium trouble (open square) no measurable difference either way (muted circle)
From SPRINT (intensive vs standard control). These are trial-population figures — not your personal numbers.
Given my age and how steady I am on my feet, what target are we actually aiming for — and why that one?
Question 2
If we aim lower, what side effects should I watch for, and when should I tell you it's too much?
Question 3
What's my own heart-and-stroke risk — the real number — so we're trading against something concrete?
Your doctor's number (echoed, not endorsed)
The honest bit
Take it with you
Email the one-pager — your age, the trade-off picture, and the three questions — to bring to your blood pressure review.
A clean printable, ready to put on the desk at your next appointment.
I'll also send the occasional drhblo email. Unsubscribe anytime.
If you want this for your own numbers
This is the general version. The full blood pressure decision kit runs your own readings and your own heart-risk score through the same trade-off — and tells you the exact questions for your numbers.