This Wednesday, 17 May is World Hypertension Day and local people are being encouraged to get their blood pressure checked so they know their numbers and can seek help if they need it.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, rarely causes any symptoms. So, the only way to know if you have it, is to have your blood pressure checked. But if left without treatment, high blood pressure increases the risk of serious problems such as heart attacks and strokes. Around 1 in 4 adults in the UK have high blood pressure, although many will not realise it.

The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure checked. You can get your blood pressure checked at:

• GP surgeries,
• some pharmacies,
• at your NHS Health check.

Or, you can buy your own machine and check it at home: https://www.bloodpressureuk.org/your-blood-pressure/how-to-lower-your-blood-pressure/monitoring-your-blood-pressure-at-home/how-to-measure-your-blood-pressure-at-home/

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.

If your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs, such as the brain, kidneys and eyes; but it is easy to treat, and these complications are completely preventable in most cases.

Dr Frankie Swords, Executive Medical Director, NHS Norfolk and Waveney, said:

“This World Hypertension Day is a great reminder that prevention should be at the heart of all we do as healthcare professionals, and picking up high blood pressure, before it causes any major problems is a brilliant example of this.

“High blood pressure is easy to treat, through lifestyle changes and medication, and we know that this treatment can prevent heart attacks and stroke.

“So if you have been invited for a NHS health check, please do not ignore it – it might just save your life!  

Things that can improve blood pressure

Lots of things cause high blood pressure, and while we can’t do much about our age or genes, there is plenty we can do. These include:

• reducing our weight if we are overweight or obese,
• monitoring and reduce our salt intake,
• being more active,
• drinking less alcohol,
• smoking less.

Making healthy lifestyle changes can reduce our chances of getting high blood pressure and lower our blood pressure.

For more information, please visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/ or if you have concerns contact your GP practice.

ENDS

NOTES

• Book your NHS Health Check today by calling 0808 175 0413 or visiting https://norfolkhealthchecks.reedwellbeing.com/