Blood pressure
That’s why from September 12 – 18, 2011, the charity is organising Know your Numbers! Week – the nation’s biggest blood pressure testing event. Thousands of venues across the UK, including supermarkets, pharmacies, health clubs and other community venues, will be offering free blood pressure checks.
From the beginning of September, you can find out where your nearest venue is for your free check by visiting www.bpassoc.org.uk/kyn or by calling the Blood Pressure Association on 020 8772 4994.
Are you at risk?
One in three adults in the UK has high blood pressure, but a third of them don’t even know they have it because it’s symptomless. So while many people think they’ll experience warning signs such as headaches or a red face, the reality is the first symptom of high blood pressure can be a stroke or heart attack. High blood pressure is also a risk factor for kidney disease and vascular dementia.
Some may say ignorance is bliss, but this certainly isn’t the case for high blood pressure as, once it’s diagnosed, the condition can be successfully managed. That why it’s so important to have regular blood pressure checks.
While high blood pressure can affect absolutely anyone – young or old, super-fit or couch potato – there are some factors which will increase your risk of developing it:
-
Age – blood pressure tends to rise as we get older. For example, research has found that 20 per cent of those in their 20s have high blood pressure, 40 per cent in their 40s and 60 per cent in their 60s. So it’s increasingly important to have regular checks as you get older. An easy way to do this is to home monitor – visit the Blood Pressure Association’s website (www.bpassoc.org.uk) for more information.
-
Family history – if one or more members of your family (usually a parent or sibling) have high blood pressure then you’ll be at increased risk, and the more family members who have high blood pressure, the greater the risk. If you’ve already been diagnosed with high blood pressure, be sure to pass this information onto your children too.
-
Lifestyle - being overweight, not doing enough exercise, drinking too much alcohol, and eating too much salt and not enough fruit and vegetables can all contribute to high blood pressure.
But what do the numbers mean?
Blood pressure measurements are written as two numbers, e.g '120/80' or '120 over 80'. The top number is the systolic, which is when your heart is squeezing and pushing blood around the body, and the bottom number is the diastolic, when your heart relaxes. These numbers are measured in units of millimetres of mercury (or mmHg).
We should be all be aiming for a blood pressure of 120/80 or lower, which is the optimal level. Our blood pressure naturally fluctuates throughout the day, but if your readings are consistently at 140/90 or above over a number of weeks (both or just one of the numbers), then you probably have high blood pressure and will need to lower it.
If your readings are between these two levels, then you’d certainly benefit from lowering your blood pressure. A few lifestyle changes could really improve your blood pressure, helping you to avoid developing high blood pressure in the future.
Top tips to lower or avoid high blood pressure
Professor Graham MacGregor, Chairman of the Blood Pressure Association, says: "If you’ve been prescribed blood pressure-lowering medicines by your doctor, then it’s really important you take them. Far too many people stop taking their medicines when they see their numbers going down, so their blood pressure goes up again and with this their risk of stroke and heart attack.
"Some people may be put off taking their medicines because of side effects, but the trick is to be persistent with any new medicine, giving your body at least six weeks to adjust if the side-effects aren’t intolerable. If the medicines are still unbearable after this time, then go back to your doctor, as there are literally hundreds of medicines to choose from."
The Blood Pressure Association recommends five top tips to lower blood pressure, which can help some people to avoid developing high blood pressure, and for those already taking medicines, can reduce the amount they need to take:
1. Cut down on salt – no more than 6g a day (a teaspoon), including hidden salt in foods like bread and cereals, so be sure to check labels.
2. Get your 'five a day' of fruit and veg.
3. Stay active – 30 minutes of aerobic activity five times a week.
4. Maintain your ideal weight.
5. Keep an eye on alcohol – no more than 2-3 units a day for women, 3-4 a day for men.
For more information contact visit UK charity the Blood Pressure Association’s website www.bpassoc.org.uk or call its Information Line 0845 241 0989 (Weekdays, 11am-3pm).
First published August 18, 2010. Updated September 1, 2011.