Do you know your blood pressure number?
The 15-21st September marks Blood Pressure UK’s, Know Your Numbers Week. To support this annual awareness event, Life Line Screening, the leading experts in preventive community health screening, has partnered with the blood pressure charity, to encourage people to get their blood pressure levels checked and to take the necessary steps to maintain a healthy reading.
16 Million People in the UK Have High Blood Pressure - Could One Of Them Be You?
Know Your Numbers Week is the UK’s largest blood pressure campaign and this year’s aim is to highlight that there are 8 million people in the UK that are living with high blood pressure but not being treated for it – both young and old – putting them at risk of stroke and heart attacks. A shocking 1 in 3 adults has high blood pressure, which is responsible for 60% of strokes and 40% of heart attacks. Left untreated, the condition is also a risk factor for kidney disease and vascular dementia.
Find Reassurance with Life Line Screening
Notoriously known as the UK’s biggest silent killer, high blood pressure doesn’t necessarily present any symptoms and so the only way to be sure of your risk is to get checked regularly. Getting your blood pressure checked provides an assessment of personal risk and hopefully the encouragement to make positive lifestyle changes if your numbers are high. For anyone wanting reassurance, Life Line Screening (www.lifelinescreening.co.uk) recommends their comprehensive heart disease risk assessment. The package includes an in-depth analysis of your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels - essential factors in the detection of heart-related diseases.
“High blood pressure is one of the biggest risk factors for stroke, heart attack and heart disease which can give rise to premature deaths and preventable disabilities,” says Dr John Coltart, Medical Director at Life Line Screening. “Every four minutes, someone in the UK suffers from a stroke or heart attack where high blood pressure has been shown to be the key cause each year2.”
Katharine Jenner, Chief Executive Officer at Blood Pressure UK, said: “16 million people in the UK have high blood pressure, but worryingly only half of them are aware of this and are being treated. These ‘missing millions’ are a ticking time bomb; putting themselves at high risk of having a stroke or a heart attack. “Our results from last year showed only 29% of people aged 16-34 knew their blood pressure numbers compared to 38% aged over 55, so we still have a lot of work to do. Every adult should know their most vital statistic - their blood pressure!3”
The good news is that if detected, there are many ways high blood pressure can be successfully managed and returned to a healthy level, either through simple lifestyle changes or medication.
Blood Pressure UK’s ‘Top five tips for a healthy blood pressure’:
1. Cut down on salt – Reducing your salt intake it the quickest way to lower your blood pressure. Don’t add it when cooking or at the table and check food labels – aim to eat less than 6g a day.
2. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables – at least five different portions every day.
3. Watch your weight – try to reach the right weight for your height.
4. Exercise regularly – that doesn’t have to mean the gym, how about a regular lunchtime walk? 30 minutes five times a week is ideal. If you are unsure about taking up exercise, ask your GP.
5. Drink alcohol in moderation – no more than 3-4 units a day for men and no more than 2-3 units for women (a pint of normal strength beer = 2 units, a medium glass of wine = 2 units).
To learn more about your health and for more information about the full range of health screening services provided by Life Line Screening visit www.lifelinescreening.co.uk.
Rick Shakes-Brathwaite, a Cardiac Physiologist based at Highgate Private Hospital, is issuing the following advice for local people worried about their blood pressure this Know Your Numbers! Week:
“High blood pressure is a common condition where the force of your blood against your artery walls is high enough to cause health problems, such as heart disease or stroke.
“It is important to control your blood pressure because high blood pressure can lead to serious health problems. The sorts of complications I see in my clinics due to uncontrolled blood pressure include hardened or thickened arteries which can lead to stroke or heart attack, thickened, narrowed or torn blood vessels in the eyes which can lead to vision loss, and thickened heart muscle which can lead to heart failure. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can also affect your ability to think, remember and learn.
“I would recommend anyone who is worried about their blood pressure to seek advice from a health professional. You should ask your GP or nurse for a blood pressure reading every two years. A normal blood pressure reading is generally below 130/80mm Hg. Once you know that you have high blood pressure, your doctor can advise you on how to control it.”
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