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How do you know if your blood pressure is getting higher? Certain factors can put you at risk of high blood pressure, but without a blood pressure reading it’s almost impossible to know the danger you could be in. You should have your blood pressure checked regularly, Regina Giblin, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, explains how to check your blood pressure and why it is so important.
High blood pressure has barely any noticeable symptoms, earning it the nickname the ‘silent killer.’
In the most devastating circumstances, people only find out their blood pressure has skyrocketed after they have a cardiac arrest or a stroke.
The British Heart Foundation is on a mission to change that.
This World Heart Day, September 29, the British Heart Foundation is celebrating ‘Heart Heroes’ and raising awareness of the life-saving work they do around the country to educate people about the dangers of heart disease.
Regina Giblin, a senior nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: “We’ve looked at the statistics and there are 4.8 million people in the UK at the moment, who have undiagnosed high blood pressure, so they are running a real risk of developing heart disease.
“We would encourage people to know their numbers, and by that we mean get your blood pressure checked regularly.”
Are there any symptoms of high blood pressure?
Unfortunately, there are very few symptoms of high blood pressure.
However, there are two symptoms that should not be ignored, especially if you have a family history of heart disease and hypertension, or there are other factors putting you at risk of high blood pressure such as being overweight or a smoker.
Ms Giblin said: “Some people do get headaches. They suffer really bad headaches and might keep coming in all the time without being able to find the cause.
“Some people also get blurred vision, while others with very high blood pressure could also get nosebleeds.”
How is blood pressure checked?
In the UK, you can get your blood pressure checked at the GP or at a community pharmacy.
But, because of the lack of symptoms of high blood pressure, many people won’t ask their doctor about it.
Ms Giblin added: “People might be going to the GP for something else, and opportunistically the GP may do a blood pressure check which is what we encourage.
“At the moment there’s a programme in community local pharmacies to look at risk of heart disease, so doing blood pressure checks, cholesterol checks and talking to people about their knowledge of heart disease.
“Because lots of people have found it difficult to access their GP at the moment, for example, they can go see their pharmacist, and talk about their health and get some advice as well.”
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Everyone in the UK is invited for a health check at the GP once they turn 40, where their cardiovascular risk will be assessed.
If your blood pressure reading shows high blood pressure, the GP will repeat this a few times before diagnosing you with hypertension.
Can you check your blood pressure at home?
It is possible to buy a blood pressure machine and test it yourself at home but experts warns this can be tricky.
Those who want to check their blood pressure at home will most likely be people who need to look at it often, because they know it is very high, for example.
Ms Giblin says: “As I said, the most important thing is to know your numbers. So find out what your blood pressure is.
“If it’s higher than 140 over 90, then we will recommend you do a series of blood pressure tests yourself at home, or speak to your GP if you are not comfortable, comfortable and confident to do it yourself.
“We recommend you use a blood pressure machine for the arm and find a cuff that fits your arm because an oversized cuff will give you a lower reading, whereas a cuff that’s too tight will make your reading higher than it may actually be.”
It’s also important to remember your blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day.
It tends to be low when you first wake up and higher after you exercise, or if you’ve just had a drink containing caffeine.
So, if you want to check your blood pressure at home, these are Ms Giblin’s top tips:
- Avoid taking your blood pressure reading after you’ve just eaten, had a caffeinated drink or exercised.
- Create a nice relaxing environment where you’re not over-stimulated by the TV or radio or any other distractions.
- Always take your blood pressure whilst sitting down, with your arm supported by something.
- Follow the instructions on your machine.
- We would normally take three readings: the first you tend to disregard, then you take the better out of the next two.
For more information about heart health visit www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport
The British Heart Foundation Virtual Heart Hero Awards 2021 premiering on YouTube at 7pm on September 29, 2021 to mark World Heart Day. Hosted by Vernon Kay, celebrity presenters will share inspiring stories of bravery, resilience and overcoming adversity: From young heart heroes to healthcare professionals, CPR lifesavers and inspirational fundraisers – the finalists have all supported the BHF during the pandemic and continued to help others despite the most challenging year. To register to view the awards visit www.bhf.org.uk/heartheroes
The BHF Virtual Heart Hero Awards 2021 are supported by Laerdal Medical.
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