63% of British adults may be living with a ‘silent killer’ condition

According to a new poll by the charity Blood Pressure UK, 63 percent of respondents didn’t know their blood pressure reading. An elevated blood pressure reading of 140/90mmHg puts you at higher risk of stroke , heart attack and heart failure . Right now, around one in three people in the UK are estimated to be living with high blood pressure. Causes of the life-shortening health condition include an unhealthy lifestyle and a poor diet. Blood Pressure UK are now urging people to check their numbers, either at home with a bought blood pressure monitor, at a local pharmacy, or at the doctor’s office. When is the last time you checked your blood pressure? (Image: Getty) High blood pressure is largely symptomless , which is why people should take the time to learn their numbers. CEO of Blood Pressure UK, Phil Pyatt said high blood pressure is dubbed as the ‘silent killer’ for this very reason. Pyatt said: “All adults, regardless of their age, need to take control of their health by checking their blood pressure regularly.” Moreover, high blood pressure is the single biggest preventable cause of death in the UK. High blood pressure puts you at a risk of a heart attack (Image: Getty) The charity said that the more people test themselves, the more chance they have of controlling it and avoiding unnecessary premature death. Pyatt added: “Simple improvements in diet and lifestyle can really help keep blood pressure down.” Examples include eating less salt, eating more fruit and vegetables, and doing more exercise. If people conducted regular blood pressure readings at home, NHS England estimates that, across a population of 50,000 patients, 500 heart attacks could be prevented over the next five years. In addition to heart attack prevention, NHS England added that regular blood pressure checks, with the same number of patients and time frame, could also help to prevent 745 strokes. Blood Pressure UK and Kinetik Wellbeing collaborated to create ‘My Blood Pressure’. As part of the Know Your Numbers Week (September 4 to 10), the free service empowers users to take control of their heart health. The service provides the tools needed to understand and manage blood pressure effectively. For more details visit: mybloodpressure.co.uk.