‘Checking your blood pressure is so important’
HIGH blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is the single biggest treatable cause of death worldwide.
It currently affects more than one billion people worldwide – and the figure is expected to further increase.
But experts say many people don’t understand the potentially devastating impact of high blood pressure on their health. What is blood pressure?
■
Blood pressure is a measure of the force your heart uses to pump blood around your body.
It is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and is given as two figures:
Systolic pressure – the pressure when your heart pushes blood out
Diastolic pressure – the pressure when your heart rests between beats.
For example, if your blood pressure is “140 over 90” or 140/90mmHg, it means you have a systolic pressure of 140mmHg and a diastolic pressure of 90mmHg. ■ What is the ideal blood pressure?
According to the NHS, an ideal blood pressure level is considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg
But high blood pressure is considered to be 140/90mmHg or higher. ■ What causes high blood pressure? High blood pressure is often related to unhealthy lifestyle
habits such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol, being overweight and not exercising enough. ■ What happens if it’s left untreated?
High blood pressure has no symptoms, but if it’s not treated it can cause many cardiovascular conditions such as a heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and dementia. ■ Can I take medication to lower my blood pressure?
Yes. There are a variety of different medications which your GP will prescribe if necessary. ■ How often should I get my blood pressure checked?
All adults over 40 years old are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every five years.
Getting this done is easy and could save your life.
You can get your blood pressure tested at your GP surgery, a pharmacy and in some workplaces. ■ What is the diagnosis rate in Wales?
Research by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Cymru shows that for every 10 people diagnosed with high blood pressure, seven remain undiagnosed and untreated.
It means there could be up to
350,000 people in Wales who have not been diagnosed. ■ Is anything being done to improve this?
As part of May Measurement Month (MMM), BHF Cymru and Cardiff Metropolitan University have teamed up to call for further research in Wales into causes of hypertension.
A testing event was held on Wednesday at Tŷ Hywel in Cardiff Bay for all Assembly Members and Civil Servants at the National Assembly for Wales.
Dr Dai Lloyd AM said: “It is vitally important that we raise awareness of the effects of high blood pressure, and initiatives such as these undertaken at both a national and global level are vital in meeting that aim.
“We know that high blood pressure can lead to health problems in future, particularly in terms of the risk of a heart attack and stroke.
“Getting your blood pressure checked means that the issue is acknowledged and you can start to put in place measures to reduce it.”
Anyone over 18 years old who has not had their blood pressure measured in the last year is eligible to attend a Welsh measurement session at venues including gyms, pharmacies, shopping centres, workplaces, universities and other public spaces – a full list is available on www.mmmwales.com