High blood pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) means the force of blood against the artery walls stays too high. It usually causes no symptoms, yet over time it damages the heart, brain, kidneys and eyes. At Medcare in Bongaigaon, Dr. Tamoghna Das confirms whether you truly have high BP, looks for causes and damage, and sets up treatment and home checks that keep your BP in a safe range.
At a glance
- High BP in the clinic: 140/90 mmHg or more on repeated readings
- High BP at home: an average of 135/85 mmHg or more
- How common: about 1 in 3 adults in India has high BP (ICMR-INDIAB study, 2023), and many do not know it
- At Medcare: BP checks, 24-hour BP monitoring, ECG, echo, HbA1c
- Lab tests: kidney function, urine, sugar, cholesterol, sodium and potassium as needed
- Treatment: less salt, activity, weight, sleep, limiting alcohol and tobacco, and medicines when needed
Getting the diagnosis right
One high reading is not enough to diagnose high BP. Readings rise with stress, rushing, pain or a full bladder, and some people's BP is higher only in the clinic ("white-coat" effect). Others have normal clinic readings but high BP at home ("masked" high BP).
At Medcare, BP is confirmed with:
- Repeated readings after rest
- Home BP readings taken the right way
- 24-hour BP monitoring: a small cuff and recorder that measure BP every 15 to 30 minutes through a normal day and night. This shows your real average, your night-time BP and how your medicines work across the day. Night readings are a strong sign of future heart risk.
What happens at Medcare
- History and examination. Symptoms, family history, salt intake, sleep, snoring, painkiller use and other medicines.
- Confirm the diagnosis. Clinic and home readings, and 24-hour monitoring when needed.
- Check for damage. ECG and echo to see whether the heart muscle has thickened or the heart is under strain. Kidney and urine tests. Eye checks as advised.
- Look for causes. Especially in young people or when BP is very hard to control: kidney problems, hormone conditions, sleep apnea and some medicines.
- Treatment plan. Lifestyle steps and, when needed, medicines chosen for your age, kidneys, heart and other conditions.
- Follow-up. Home BP targets, review visits and medicine adjustment until BP is steady.
- History and examination. Symptoms, family history, salt intake, sleep, snoring, painkiller use and other medicines.
- Confirm the diagnosis. Clinic and home readings, and 24-hour monitoring when needed.
- Check for damage. ECG and echo to see whether the heart muscle has thickened or the heart is under strain. Kidney and urine tests. Eye checks as advised.
- Look for causes. Especially in young people or when BP is very hard to control: kidney problems, hormone conditions, sleep apnea and some medicines.
- Treatment plan. Lifestyle steps and, when needed, medicines chosen for your age, kidneys, heart and other conditions.
- Follow-up. Home BP targets, review visits and medicine adjustment until BP is steady.
Checking BP at home the right way
- Sit quietly for 5 minutes with your back supported and feet on the floor
- Rest your arm on a table at heart level, with the cuff on a bare arm
- No tea, coffee, smoking or exercise for 30 minutes before
- Take 2 readings, 1 minute apart, morning and evening, for 7 days before your visit
- Write down every reading, or bring the machine with its memory
Lowering BP day to day
- Keep salt under about one level teaspoon a day in total, including salt already in food
- Limit pickles, papad, dried fish, chips, instant noodles and salty snacks
- Eat more vegetables, fruit, dal and curd
- Walk briskly 30 minutes on most days
- Lose weight if needed, especially around the waist
- Limit alcohol and stop all tobacco
- Get loud snoring checked: sleep apnea is a common hidden cause of high BP
When to see a doctor urgently
Call 108 or 112 if high BP comes with chest pain, severe breathlessness, sudden severe headache, confusion, blurred vision, weakness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, or fits. A very high reading (180/120 mmHg or more) with any of these is an emergency.
FAQs
I feel fine. Why should I take BP medicine?
High BP usually has no symptoms until it causes a heart attack, stroke or kidney damage. Feeling well does not mean your arteries are safe. Treatment lowers these risks a great deal. Many people need medicines long term, and some can reduce them with weight loss and less salt.
Can I stop BP tablets once my BP is normal?
Please do not stop on your own. Normal readings usually mean the medicine is working. Stopping suddenly can make BP rise again, sometimes sharply. If your BP stays low or you make big lifestyle changes, Dr. Das may reduce the dose carefully under follow-up.
What is 24-hour BP monitoring?
It is a small cuff on your arm connected to a recorder at your waist. It measures BP every 15 to 30 minutes for a full day and night while you go about normal life. It shows your true average BP, night-time BP and whether readings in the clinic are misleading.
Is my BP machine at home accurate?
Most automatic arm machines are fine if used correctly. Wrist machines are less reliable. Bring your machine to the clinic once so readings can be compared. Use the right cuff size, and sit and rest properly before checking.
Can high BP affect my heart even if I have no chest pain?
Yes. Long-standing high BP makes the heart muscle thicker and stiffer, which can lead to heart failure over time. An echo shows these changes early. Good BP control can stop them getting worse.
Does salt really matter that much?
Yes, for most people. Many Indian diets contain double the recommended salt. Cutting salt lowers BP in a few weeks, and helps BP medicines work better. Start with pickles, papad, salty snacks and extra salt at the table.
Sources
- Indian Guidelines on Hypertension (current edition)
- European Society of Cardiology / European Society of Hypertension, guidelines on raised blood pressure and hypertension
- World Health Organization, Hypertension fact sheet
Related care
Medically reviewed by Dr. Tamoghna Das, MBBS, MD (Medicine) · Assam Council of Medical Registration No. 20276 · Last reviewed 3 October 2026
Book a visit with Dr. Tamoghna Das
Call 60031 21297 or send a WhatsApp message. We confirm your time within 30 to 60 minutes during clinic hours.