Have you got high blood pressure?

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HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE – which can lead to heart attack and stroke – affects more than a quarter of adults in England.

Many people don’t know they’ve got it… and you might be one of them. A simple test could save your life.

It’s the biggest risk factor for cardiovascular disease and a potential killer, but high blood pressure is also largely silent and symptomless.

That’s why having regular blood pressure checks is vital.

Certainly Janette Wilkinson, 59, a retired head teacher who was diagnosed 16 years ago thanks to a regular check-up, didn’t realise how dangerous the condition was.

She says: “I wasn’t surprised, as both my parents suffer from high blood pressure, but until the doctor explained how it could lead to life-threatening conditions, I had no idea.”

Cardiovascular disease accounted for nearly a quarter of deaths across all ages in England in 2019. In half of those deaths from heart attacks and strokes, high blood pressure – also known as hypertension – played a large part.

More than a quarter of adults in England have high blood pressure, with around four million of those people totally unaware they have the condition.

But if your blood pressure is too high, it puts strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs, such as the brain, kidneys and eyes.

Persistently high readings can increase your risk of a number of serious and potentially life-threatening health conditions such as stroke and heart attack.

If you do have high blood pressure, reducing it even by a small amount can help lower your risk. But first, you need to know your readings.

2 minutes is all it takes

The only way to diagnose it is through a blood pressure test, which is recommended for people in England at least once every five years.

If your blood pressure is too high, you can make various lifestyle changes and take medication to help bring it under control.

Janette, from East Yorkshire, was prescribed tablets but she has also adopted some lifestyle changes that can help.

“I’ve lost six and a half stone,” she says. “

I don’t like running or the gym, so I mapped out a three-mile, hour-long route and I walk it at a regular pace.”

Being overweight is a risk factor for high blood pressure, along with smoking and not getting enough exercise.

Men, over-65s and people of Black African or Black Caribbean descent have a predisposition to high blood pressure, and it can run in families.

Around four million people in England are totally unaware they have high blood pressure

You can reduce your risk by taking measures like aiming to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day and getting a good night’s kip.

Also, you should use salt sparingly in your diet, as well as cut back on alcohol and caffeine.

The two-minute test is simple: a cuff around your arm records two numbers.

The higher (systolic) is the pressure with which the heart pumps blood around the body, while the lower (diastolic) is the pressure on your blood vessels when your heart rests between beats.

As a guide, the ideal reading for anyone under 80 is between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg (or “120 over 80”, as it’s often expressed).

Readings between this and 140/90 or above could mean you’re at risk of developing persistently high blood pressure if you don’t take steps to keep it under control. High blood pressure is considered to be 140/90 or higher.

If your GP or pharmacist has any concerns, they might ask you to wear an ambulatory blood pressure monitor – a cuff with an in-built recording device – for 24 hours to get an overall picture of the situation.

So, if you haven’t had a blood pressure test for five years or more, pop into your local pharmacy or ask your GP to check it next time you’re in the surgery.

Some workplaces also offer testing, and you can request it as part of your regular NHS Health Check.

Alternatively, why not invest in a home blood pressure monitor – the British Heart Foundation (bhf.org.uk) offers advice on how to choose the right one and how to use them effectively.

However you test, make sure you do. It’s a simple check, but it could save your life.

‘Love was my wake-up call’

Graham Henry, 59, from York, was diagnosed with high blood pressure and cholesterol in his early thirties and prescribed medication.

But it was meeting Annette, now his wife, in 2009 that inspired a lifestyle change to combat both conditions.

He says: “I was overweight for most of my adult life – my job as a sales professional involved frequent dining out.

“But when I hit 18 stone, tests indicated my heart was showing signs of strain, most likely due to my long-term raised blood pressure.

“So, following Annette’s example, I looked at my diet and focused on consuming more fruit, vegetables, grains, beans, nuts and seeds.

“We also went for long walks – typically, I walk around 30 miles a week.

“And, while I used to drink alcohol more or less daily, I now only drink very occasionally.

“My weight fell to 11 and a half stone and my blood pressure normalised – in 2015, I came off my medication.

“I’ve maintained this weight for around eight years now. Happily, I continue to take no medication.

“Given my experience, I’m a big advocate for getting your blood pressure checked.