Millions of Brits are unknowingly suffering from high blood pressure, a charity warns.
The ‘silent killer’ can increase your risk of heart attacks, strokes and even kidney disease, so it’s important to get checked.
Around one in four adults in the UK have it, but just under four million have no idea, according to research by Blood Pressure UK.
High blood pressure, or hypertension as it is also called, rarely has noticeable symptoms (hence why it is called the silent killer) so is often missed.
The only way to find out if you’ve got it is to get a blood pressure test.
Adults over 40 are already advised to get checked at least every five years.
But now, younger people are being urged to get tested too, after a poll revealed nearly one in ten Britons have never had their blood pressure checked.
Hemini Bharadia, from the charity, said: “Having your blood pressure checked at home, at your local pharmacy or GP is a cost-effective and reliable method to manage blood pressure, with growing evidence supporting its benefits.”
The call is part of Know Your Numbers Week, which runs from September 2 -8 and aims to encourage people to get checked.
Failure to get tested so could end up being fatal.
High blood pressure is responsible for more than half of all strokes and heart attacks and is a major risk.
It is also a major risk factor for heart disease, kidney disease and vascular dementia.
One of the major contributors is excessive salt intake.
Studies have suggested that as little as a teaspoon of salt each day can increase your risk of the condition.
The NHS says adults should avoid eating more than six grams each day.
Worryingly, 20 per cent of those surveyed are consuming nearly double the NHS’s recommended daily salt limit, the charity said.
Phil Pyatt, CEO of Blood Pressure UK adds: “It’s hard to believe a little bit of salt can have such an impact on our health, especially when it risks raising our blood pressure.
“Given this, we are urging all adults of all ages to check their blood pressure and take control of their health, along with simple improvements in diet and lifestyle such as eating less salt, more fruit and vegetables and doing more exercise.”
UPPING your intake of a key mineral is just as important as cutting down on salt when it comes to high blood pressure, scientists say.
Reducing the amount of salt consumed has been a central component of health advice aimed at controlling hypertension, as the condition is also called.
That’s because salt makes your body hold onto water, putting extra pressure on your blood vessel walls.
But new research has shown that eating a key mineral – potassium – can also be crucial for managing blood pressure.
High levels of potassium are found in whole foods and it’s one of the reasons fresh fruits and vegetables are so good for you, researchers from the George Institute for Global Health said.
Foods rich in the essential mineral include:
Every blood pressure reading consists of two numbers, shown as one number on top of the other, according to Blood Pressure UK.
The first (top) number is your systolic blood pressure – the force at which your heart pumps blood around your body.
The second (or bottom) number is your diastolic blood pressure – the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels between heartbeats when blood is pumped around your heart.
An ideal blood pressure reading is between 90/60mmHg (millimetres of mercury) and 120/80mmHg.
You have high blood pressure if your readings are consistently above 140/90mmHg.
If you’re over the age of 80, high blood pressure is considered to be from 150/90mmHg.
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, the NHS says.
Persistent high blood pressure can increase your risk of a number of serious and potentially life-threatening health conditions, such as:
If you have high blood pressure, reducing it even a small amount can help lower your risk of these health conditions.
Doctors can help you keep yours at safe levels with lifestyle changes and medication.
