TEST TO AVOID HEART ATTACK IN 2 MINUTES

ONE in four people suffer a health problem that can lead to a sudden heart attack or stroke. Yet the majority have no idea they have it.

I’m talking about high blood pressure – when the heart is working too hard to pump blood around the body.

High blood pressure is usually symptomless. So without testing, the first warning might be a medical emergency.

We test blood pressure as routine at appointments.

But this year, with reduced access to GP surgeries, thousands of patients will remain unchecked. So I am urging everyone to take their own blood pressure once every six months at home.

There are several reliable at home blood-pressure kits on the high street, costing as little as £10. The monitor on the kit will show two numbers – if the higher one is above 140 and the lower one above 90, repeat the test everyday that week, morning and evening. Record the results and at the end of the week, arrange a call with your GP. They may suggest blood tests (which are still possible in surgeries and hospital clinics) that spot associated cardiovascular risks such as diabetes and high cholesterol.

Often, simply exercising and cutting alcohol, salt and smoking is enough to drop it.

Otherwise, there is a range of more than 40 different tablets we can use, all of them highly effective.