Take back control

The good news is that small changes can make a big difference to get you back in the safe zone (below 120/80). ‘Once you know how to check your blood pressure, the next step is to develop an understanding of trends over time,’ says Dr Brenske. ‘If you can identify when there are peaks in your blood pressure, you can understand positive and negative lifestyle choices that impact your health.’ Many factors affect hypertension, from diet to stress to medication. Even if you think you’re being healthy, your numbers could say otherwise. ‘This is why it’s so important to have regular check-ups, at least once every five years, whether you think you’re at risk or not,’ says Lloydspharmacy’s Kate Taylor.