High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is often referred to as a silent killer because it rarely has noticeable symptoms – but for those who do experience them, it’s important to be aware
Over a quarter of UK adults are unknowingly living with high blood pressure, a condition often devoid of noticeable symptoms.
Many of us only seek medical attention when we feel ill or spot unusual signs – but regular blood pressure checks are crucial, even if we feel perfectly healthy. Those over 40 should get checked at least once every five years. However, those at risk should ideally have annual checks.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is dubbed the silent killer due to its lack of obvious symptoms. But blurred vision could be a tell-tale sign, along with nosebleeds, breathlessness, chest pain, dizziness and headaches, according to the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
Blood pressure can be checked at GP surgeries, some pharmacies and workplaces. Hypertension can heighten the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.
The BHF suggests daily moderate-intensity physical activity, building up to at least 150 minutes per week, to help lower blood pressure. Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet low in salt and rich in nutrients found in fruits and veggies is key. If you enjoy a tipple, remember to stick to the recommended limits – that’s no more than 3–4 units a day for men and a max of 2–3 for women.
And if you’re on any meds, make sure you take them exactly as your doctor ordered. In a groundbreaking new study, it turns out tying the knot with someone who has high blood pressure might just raise your own chances of the condition.
A whopping 47 per cent of UK couples are both battling hypertension, with figures in the UK and US topping those in other parts of the world, according to research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
“Many people know that high blood pressure is common in middle-aged and older adults, yet we were surprised to find that among many older couples, both husband and wife had high blood pressure in the US, England, China and India,” revealed senior author Chihua Li.
This first-of-its-kind study suggests the shared risk could be due to similar lifestyle habits and the challenge of living healthily when your partner isn’t on the same page.
The study also showed that in the UK and US, a wife was nine per cent more likely to have high blood pressure if her husband did. However, this figure rose to 19 per cent in India and 26 per cent in China.
“High blood pressure is more common in the US and England than in China and India, however, the association between couples’ blood pressure status was stronger in China and India than in the US and England. One reason might be cultural. In China and India, there’s a strong belief in sticking together as a family, so couples might influence each other’s health more,” explained Peiyi Lu, one of the lead authors of the study.