Millions of people in the UK are thought to be living with this potentially dangerous condition without realising it
The NHS has issues a warning over a “silent killer” affecting millions of Brits. People have been urged to “know your numbers” when it comes to your blood pressure.
Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure is a condition where the force of your blood against your artery walls is consistently too high. Over time this can cause damage to the blood vessels as well as organs.
It is also a key contributing factor to many serious medical issues. However, it typically doesn’t appear with any symptoms – earning it the nickname of “silent killer”.
It is estimated that millions of people in the UK currently have high blood pressure, but aren’t aware. In a post made to X, the NHS said: “The best way to understand your blood pressure is to check it regularly.
“Our online blood pressure tool will help you understand what your numbers mean and give you tips on how to manage your blood pressure.” You can access the online tool here.
Earlier this year the British Heart Foundation (BHF) reported that as many as 125,000 heart attacks and strokes could be prevented in the coming decade by finding and treating the millions of people with undiagnosed high blood pressure in the UK.
The charity warned that failing to do so risks creating a “powder keg” of future ill health that threatens to “devastate families” and pile “unsustainable pressure” on the NHS. Around half of heart attacks and strokes are linked to high blood pressure condition, it said.
The BHF said: “Of the 16 million adults in the UK estimated to have high blood pressure, up to half are not receiving effective treatment, our latest estimates show. As many as five million are estimated to have undiagnosed high blood pressure.”
What is considered to be high blood pressure?
The only way to be sure if your blood pressure is too high is to get it tested. You can do this either with an at-home kit or by asking your GP or pharmacist.
Blood pressure readings are given as two numbers, with the first number higher than the second (for example, 130/80). According to the NHS, if you’re under 80 years of age, you’re usually considered to have high blood pressure if your reading is either:
- 140/90 or higher when checked by a healthcare professional
- 135/85 or higher when checked at home
If you’re aged 80 or over, you’re usually considered to have high blood pressure if your reading is either:
- 150/90 or higher when checked by a healthcare professional
- 145/85 or higher when checked at home
To lower your blood pressure, the NHS recommends you:
- Have a healthy, balanced diet
- Exercise regularly – aim to do at least 150 minutes of exercise a week
- Lose weight if you’re overweight
- Do not eat too much salt – avoid salty food or adding salt to your meals
- Do not drink too much alcohol – avoid drinking more than 14 alcohol units a week on a regular basis
- Do not drink too much caffeine – drinks high in caffeine include coffee, tea and cola
- Do not smoke
If you’re concerned about your blood pressure, you should speak to your GP.