High blood pressure: do you have it?
High blood pressure – also known as hypertension – rarely has any symptoms, and yet if left untreated it can lead to serious problems such as heart attacks and strokes.
“The only way to know whether your blood pressure is high is to have it checked,” says Boots’ superintendent pharmacist Claire Nevinson. Here she explains everything you need to know.
Boots’ superintendent pharmacist Claire NevinsonWhat is high blood pressure?
“High blood pressure is a serious condition where your heart has to work harder to pump blood around your body,” explains Claire.
If untreated, the arteries can stiffen and narrow, making it easier for fatty material to clog them up and cause heart and circulatory conditions, including heart attack and stroke.
Why should I get it checked?
“Around one in four adults in the UK has high blood pressure, yet it rarely has any noticeable symptoms,” explains Claire.
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High blood pressure is the biggest risk factor for cardiovascular disease – one of the leading causes of premature death in England – so it’s well worth getting yours checked.
Who is most at risk of high blood pressure?
“People at increased risk of high blood pressure include those aged 65 and over, those who are carrying excess weight and those who struggle to exercise,” says Claire. “Smoking, having a diet that’s high in salt, alcohol and caffeine, and low in fruit and vegetables, also increases the risk.”
Genes are believed to play some role in hypertension, so you may also be more susceptible if you are of black African or black Caribbean descent, or if you have a relative with high blood pressure.
The pharmacist can also give you healthy lifestyle advice (Tom Werner)Where can I get my blood pressure checked?
You can get it checked as part of a free Health MOT**, available at over 1,000 Boots pharmacies in England.
The free MOT includes the NHS Blood Pressure Check Service and is suitable for adults aged 40 and over who do not currently have a diagnosis of hypertension, adults under 40 who have a recognised family history of hypertension*** and adults referred by their GP for the measurement of blood pressure.
What does the test involve?
A pharmacist will do a reading using a blood pressure machine and, if you wish, you can also have your BMI (body mass index) calculated and waist circumference measured.
The pharmacist will provide healthy lifestyle advice, such as weight management or stopping smoking and, if required, refer you to your GP for further support.
How do I book?
Ask in-store or book online at boots.com/health-mot
* source:
**Subject to availability
***This is at the pharmacist’s discretion
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