HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Victoria Campbell GP REGISTRAR

It’s estimated that a third of adults in the UK have high blood pressure, though usually people have no symptoms.

If blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on blood vessels, heart and other organs, such as the brain, kidneys and eyes. If high blood pressure isn’t treated it can increase the risk of some serious and life-threatening health conditions, such as heart disease, heart attacks and heart failure, strokes, kidney disease and vascular dementia.

However, reducing high blood pressure by even a small amount can help lower the risk of these health conditions.

Salt in our diet gradually pushes up blood pressures, and overweight people inevitably consume more salt because it is in so many foods. Just being overweight also puts up the blood pressure, and that can become permanent. Blood pressure often falls sharply when people lose weight.

Everyone’s blood pressure will be slightly different. What’s considered low or high for you may be normal for someone else. All adults over 40 are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every five years, but it’s particularly important for those who are overweight or unfit.

GP Registrar Victoria Campbell believes it’s important to help patients help themselves. She said:“I find patients respond well to encouragement and a lot of people are aware a healthy balanced diet and regular exercise are important ways of helping to lower blood pressure.

“Specific measures that can make a difference are avoiding excessive alcohol intake (no more than 14 units per week for men and women is current guidance); keeping dietary sodium intake low (under 6g a day); limiting periods of inactivity (eg screen time) and aiming to do “at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise on five days of the week or more”.

Incorporating exercise into your daily routine is often more realistic, for example, a brisk walk or cycling to work.”