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World Hypertension Day: Check your blood pressure

Posted on: 17 May 2023

Around one in four adults in the UK have hypertension also known as high blood pressure, but many don’t know it. Read on to know the risks and how to manage your blood pressure (BP).

Consequently, having too high of a BP puts a strain on organs such as brain, kidneys, and eyes. Having high BP can also put you at risk on life-threatening conditions such as heart diseases, heart attacks and strokes.

The following are some risk factors of having hypertension: 

  • Being overweight
  • A poor diet high in salt
  • Minimal exercise
  • High caffeine intake
  • Smoking
  • Family history of hypertension 
  • Are of Black African or Caribbean descent
  • Living in a deprived area.

One of the ways you can manage hypertension is by regularly checking your blood pressure. Having a BP test allows you to see if your BP levels are within a healthy range. All adults over 40 are advised to check their BP at least once every five years.

You can check your BP at places such as:

  • Your GP
  • Pharmacies
  • NHS Health Check

Lifestyles changes can help prevent and lower high blood pressure such as cutting back on alcohol, caffeine, and regular exercise.

Your doctor may prescribe you some medicine to manage your BP. Some of these medicines include: 

  • angiotensin-2 receptor blockers (ARBs) – such as candesartan, irbesartan, losartan, valsartan 
  • alpha blockers – such as doxazosin
  • other diuretics – such as amiloride and spironolactone.

For further reading, click the link below.

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