High blood pressure in Sweden: thresholds, targets and care
High blood pressure rarely causes symptoms but is the most important treatable risk factor for stroke and heart attack. Here is how it is defined under the 2024 European guidelines, how it is diagnosed in Sweden and how to get care.
Call 112 if you have
- Blood pressure of 180/110 mmHg or higher together with chest pain, shortness of breath, severe headache, confusion, vision problems or weakness in an arm or leg.
- Crushing chest pain lasting more than 15 minutes, or signs of stroke: facial droop, arm weakness, slurred speech.
Blood pressure categories (ESC 2024)
The European Society of Cardiology simplified the classification in 2024 into three categories based on blood pressure measured in a clinic. A diagnosis should be confirmed with measurements outside the clinic.
| Category | Clinic | Home average | 24-hour average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-elevated | below 120/70 | – | – |
| Elevated | 120–139 / 70–89 | – | – |
| Hypertension | 140/90 or higher | 135/85 or higher | 130/80 or higher |
The new “elevated” category signals that cardiovascular risk starts to rise from 120/70. Whether elevated blood pressure is treated with medication depends on your overall risk, which doctors in Sweden usually estimate with the SCORE2 model. You can estimate your own risk with our SCORE2 calculator (Swedish).
How hypertension is diagnosed in Sweden
Blood pressure is often higher at the clinic than at home – the white-coat effect. Swedish primary care therefore confirms a raised reading with home monitoring (usually morning and evening for a week, using a validated upper-arm device) or with 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, where you wear a cuff that measures automatically throughout the day and night. Blood tests (kidney function, potassium, lipids, glucose/HbA1c) and an ECG are usually part of the initial assessment.
Treatment and targets
Lifestyle measures matter for everyone: less salt (under 5 g per day), regular physical activity of 150–300 minutes per week, limited alcohol, weight loss if overweight and stopping smoking. If you have hypertension, the 2024 guidelines recommend starting medication promptly, usually as a low-dose combination of two drugs – often an ACE inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker with a calcium channel blocker or a thiazide-type diuretic – preferably in a single pill.
For most adults on treatment the target is a systolic pressure of 120–129 mmHg, if well tolerated. In people who are frail, very old or get dizzy on standing, the target is individualised.
Getting care in Sweden
High blood pressure is managed by your vårdcentral (primary care centre). You can contact it through 1177.se or by phone, and call 1177 around the clock for healthcare advice. Prescription medicines are covered by the Swedish high-cost protection scheme (högkostnadsskydd), which caps what you pay over a twelve-month period.
Private and digital care is also available. One option is the telemedicine provider Vardse Nordic AB (org. no. 559244-8384), which coordinates physician reviews, blood tests and follow-up. Please note that Vardse Nordic belongs to the same group of companies as the publisher of hjärta.nu.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal blood pressure according to European guidelines?
The 2024 ESC guidelines classify office blood pressure below 120/70 mmHg as non-elevated, 120–139/70–89 mmHg as elevated, and 140/90 mmHg or higher as hypertension. At home the threshold for hypertension is 135/85 mmHg, and for 24-hour monitoring it is 130/80 mmHg.
What blood pressure target is used in Sweden?
For most adults on treatment, the 2024 ESC guidelines recommend a systolic target of 120–129 mmHg if well tolerated. In frail older people or those with dizziness on standing, the target is individualised – as low as is reasonably achievable.
Where do I go for blood pressure care in Sweden?
Your vårdcentral (primary care centre) handles diagnosis and follow-up of high blood pressure. You can book through 1177.se or by phone. If you are not registered with a vårdcentral, you can choose one and register online via 1177 with BankID.
Sources
- 2024 ESC Guidelines for the management of elevated blood pressure and hypertension – European Heart Journal, 2024.
- Högt blodtryck – 1177 (in Swedish).
This page is general information and does not replace an individual medical assessment.