The pressure is now on for people to get tested for hypertension

It’s World Hypertension Day on Friday. Fidelma Carter of NI Chest Heart & Stroke answers your questions on the condition

What exactly is blood pressure?

Your heart pumps blood around your body to provide oxygen. Each time the heart pumps, the blood presses on the sides of your blood vessels, and your blood pressure is the force of blood on the walls of your blood vessels.

Your blood pressure naturally fluctuates day and night, usually increasing when you are active.

However, if your blood pressure is consistently high, even when resting, you should see your doctor.

Untreated high blood pressure can increase the risk of severe conditions, including heart failure, heart attacks and strokes, but can also affect your brain, kidneys and eyes.

Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury or mmhg. High blood pressure is indicated when readings begin to rise above the levels of 140/90mmhg. Ideal blood pressure is between 90/60mmhg and 120/80mmhg. One reading alone cannot diagnose high blood pressure however, it must be recorded over a period of time.

Are there symptoms associated with high blood pressure?

Undetected high blood pressure is often known as ‘the silent killer’ due to the fact it rarely causes any physical symptoms or warning signs and is often only discovered after someone suffers a stroke or heart attack. The only way to know what your blood pressure is, and if it is high, is to have it measured. A blood pressure check is simple and only takes a few minutes, but it really could help save your life.

Isn’t high blood pressure more common in older people?

Many people associate high blood pressure with older people, but high blood pressure can affect anyone, at any age. It is important people are not complacent about their health just because they are in a younger age bracket.

How can you get your blood pressure checked?

There are a number of ways you can get your blood pressure checked. You can make an appointment with your GP or nurse within the GP surgery, or visit your local pharmacy which may operate a blood pressure monitoring service. You could also buy a blood pressure machine for home monitoring. Some workplaces also provide health checks for their staff.

Which is most important, the top or bottom number?

Systolic pressure is the top number. This is the pressure when your heart pumps blood through the arteries and around your body. Diastolic pressure is the bottom number.

This is the pressure when your heart is resting in between beats. Both numbers are equally important, and if either are raised above the recommended levels, they should be treated to reduce the risk having a stroke or heart attack.

Having a raised systolic blood pressure but normal or low diastolic blood pressure is called isolated systolic Hypertension (ISH).

Even though only the top number is raised, it still carries a high risk of developing heart attacks or strokes and should be treated.

Do I need to get my cholesterol checked too?

High blood pressure can lead to heart disease and stroke. A raised blood cholesterol level can also lead to heart disease and stroke. If you have both at the same time, the risks are higher.

If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure you might also have a blood test to measure your cholesterol levels, particularly if you are overweight, you are not physically active or you smoke, as these can also raise your risk of health problems.

What can people do to reduce their risk?

Having high blood pressure dramatically increases your risk of heart attack and stroke, so it is very important that if you have it, you are diagnosed and receive and maintain appropriate treatment.

The good news, however, is it is also one of the most preventable causes of these conditions. There are many lifestyle changes we can all make to help reduce our blood pressure and maintain it at a healthy level. These changes include maintaining a healthy weight, taking regular exercise and being more active, reducing salt intake, stopping smoking, increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, and cutting back on the amount of alcohol we drink.

These changes might sound simple, but they really could help save your life.