This paper discusses the experience with "high blood pressure" and associated diseases posited as physical and moral sufferings in the whole person who lives, works and reflects amid life circumstances that affect him. This is a case study of a qualitative research on narrative and meaning of "high pressure", made with 17 men and 20 women diagnosed for over a year with hypertension, users of a Family Health Unit of an inland city in São Paulo state. Two reasons guided the case selection: being included among the seven interviewees who mentioned having discovered hypertension at the time spent by the heart attack or stroke, and being female. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews about perceived health conditions, discovery of the disease, explanation of its genesis, therapeutic itineraries, social support received; relations with health services and other curing agents and management of medical prescriptions. This study displays the interconnections and unique personal experience of illness with the broader socio-cultural contexts, moral values, social relations and social representations of the body, health, illness and care shared with the working class.
illness experience; arterial hypertension; social sciences and health; qualitative research on health