The organisation has released a warning, urging people to get checked to avoid potentially serious health problems
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is warning people who get nose bleeds that it could be a sign of fatal condition. Urging people to get their blood pressure checked, they explain that high blood pressure (hypertension) is very common.
But even though it is common, it can put you at risk of “life-threatening complications like heart attack and stroke” – and knowing the signs can help prevent this.
What is high blood pressure?
Blood pressure is all about the pressure of blood in your arteries. Your arteries are the vessels (tubes) that carry blood from your heart to your brain and the rest of your body. Whilst we need some pressure to get our blood flowing, too much is an issue.
The heart experts explain: “Your blood pressure naturally goes up and down throughout the day and night, and it’s normal for it to go up while you’re moving about. It’s when your overall blood pressure is always high, even when you are resting, that you need to do something about it.”
READ MORE: Paediatric expert says 300 kids in A&E shows trend could ‘harm large number’READ MORE: One of the lesser-known symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency found in your feet
What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?
The BHF warns that hypertension has no “obvious symptoms” and “people don’t know they have high blood pressure” because of this and “that’s why it’s so important to get your blood pressure checked regularly”, they warn.
Talking about some signs to look out for, they note: “Rarely, it can cause symptoms like blurred vision, headaches and nose bleeds.”
What are the risks of high blood pressure?
“High blood pressure is a serious condition”, the experts warn. Your arteries are naturally flexible, allowing them to adjust as your blood pressure rises and falls. However, when you have high blood pressure, they can lose this flexibility, becoming stiff or narrowed.
They add: “This narrowing makes it easier for fatty material (atheroma) to build up. This narrowing and damage to the arteries lining your heart or brain could trigger a life-threatening heart attack or stroke.”
Changes in your diet and increasing activity levels will help improve your blood pressure. But if left untreated, high blood pressure can also lead to complications such as:
- kidney failure
- heart failure
- problems with your sight
- vascular dementia
You might be more at risk if you:
- are over the age of 65
- have someone in your family with high blood pressure
- are someone who smokes
- drink too much alcohol
- eat too much salt and not enough fruit and vegetables
- don’t get enough exercise
- are overweight, especially around your mid-section.
- living in deprived areas
- people who are of black African or black Caribbean descent
READ MORE: Lung cancer doctors say early sign of disease can appear on your fingertipsREAD MORE: Diet expert ‘superfood’ that can help reduce wrinkles and improve skin
For some people, a cause of high blood pressure is found. This is known as ‘secondary hypertension’. Examples of secondary hypertension include:
- kidney disease
- diabetes
- a condition called obstructive sleep apnoea, which can lead to disturbed sleep
- some medicines, such as oral contraceptives
- some over-the-counter and herbal medicines
Free blood pressure check – are you eligible?
If you’re a healthy adult aged 40 to 74, and live in England or Wales, you’ll be invited to a free NHS Health Check every 5 years, which will include a blood pressure check.
You can also check your blood pressure at home. In England, a scheme called Blood Pressure @home is in place to support people with this, which you can ask your GP about. There is also a similar scheme in Scotland called the Scale-Up BP initiative.
What are healthy or normal blood pressure readings?
There are two categories of normal blood pressure:
- Normal blood pressure: Usually considered to be between 90/60 mmHg and 120/80 mmHg. For over-80s, because it’s normal for arteries to get stiffer as we get older, the ideal blood pressure is under 150/90 mmHg (or 145/85 mmHg at home)
- High-normal blood pressure: Sometimes called ‘pre-hypertension’, this is when you don’t have an ideal blood pressure but you also don’t have high blood pressure. It’s usually considered to be between 120/80 mmHg and 140/90 mmHg. Being at this level might prompt you to live a healthier lifestyle so you don’t develop high blood pressure