IN MY SURGERY: HYPERTENSION
I’ve lost count of the number of patients with high blood pressure (hypertension) I’ve treated – hardly surprising when high blood pressure contributes to about half of strokes and heart attacks and more than 14m people in the UK have it. However, 5m of those are undiagnosed, and you don’t know you have it unless your blood pressure is checked.
Recently, I saw a patient whose blood pressure was checked for free by his pharmacist. The level was high, so the pharmacist had arranged for him to wear a machine that checked his blood pressure regularly for 24 hours. It confirmed hypertension (blood pressure over 140/90 millimetres of mercury, or an average of 135/85 on repeated tests) and the pharmacist sent him to me for follow-up. He’s now on medication and has had lots of advice about tackling his weight, reducing his salt intake, exercising regularly and following a heart-healthy diet.
In recent years, studies have shown blood pressure medicine to be equally effective whether taken in the morning or the evening; that
More than 14m in the UK have high blood pressure
high-risk patients may benefit from starting a combination of drugs (rather than one at a time); and that combinations of diuretics (water tablets) may carry a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than taking just one. For people with severe hypertension, a new drug given by six-monthly injection may offer additional protection.
So, there is much reason for optimism if you are diagnosed – but you need to be aware of your numbers to know if you’re at risk.