The NHS has revealed the number one cause of pain and disability in Greater Manchester - which kicks off serious conditions including strokes, heart attacks and dementia.
Raised blood pressure, or hypertension, is the number one cause of pain and disability in Greater Manchester, the region's NHS has uncovered. Medical chiefs are encouraging people to get their blood pressure checked - and make simple life changes that could stop them becoming gravely ill.
Blood pressure is the strength with which your blood pushes on the sides of your arteries - which are just like pipes - as it is pumped around your body. High blood pressure causes stress on your blood vessels and increases the risk of problems such as a heart attack, stroke or dementia, and can affect any part of the body.
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High blood pressure does not usually have any symptoms, which means the only way to find out is to get your blood pressure checked with a quick test. Healthy adults over 40 years-old are encouraged to have their blood pressure checked every five years.
If you're at an increased risk of high blood pressure, you should have your blood pressure checked more often, ideally once a year says the NHS. Doctors can help patients keep their blood pressure at a safe level through medication and/or lifestyle changes.
Dr Aseem Mishra, Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Lead for NHS Greater Manchester, said: “Unfortunately, many people may not know they have high blood pressure as there are usually no symptoms, so it’s important that people do get checked if they haven’t recently.
“If you do find out you have high blood pressure, it doesn’t mean you have done anything wrong. There are many reasons why you may have high blood pressure and it could be genetic, but the important thing is that there are also lots of things we can now do to bring it under control and help us stay well for longer.
“Simple lifestyle changes can have a massive impact on reducing blood pressure and helping you feel better. These include moving, eating a balanced diet and drinking responsibly. If needed, your GP can prescribe you medication which works alongside these changes."
The doctor added that the public should contact their GP or local pharmacy to get a 'quick and easy blood pressure check', saying 'it really could improve your life'.
What is classed as high blood pressure?
Around one in four adults in the UK have high blood pressure, although many will not realise it, according to the health service. The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure checked.
Blood pressure is recorded with two numbers. The systolic pressure (higher number) is the force at which your heart pumps blood around your body.
The diastolic pressure (lower number) is the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels between heartbeats. They're both measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).
As a general guide:
- high blood pressure is considered to be from 140/90mmHg (or an average of 135/85mmHg at home) – or 150/90mmHg (or an average of 145/85mmHg at home) if you're over the age of 80
- ideal blood pressure is usually considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg, while the target for over-80s is below 150/90mmHg (or 145/85mmHg at home)
Blood pressure readings from 121/81mmHg to 139/89mmHg could mean you're at risk of developing high blood pressure if you do not take steps to keep your blood pressure under control. Everyone's blood pressure will be slightly different. What's considered low or high for you may be normal for someone else.
Symptoms of high blood pressure
High blood pressure rarely has noticeable symptoms, according to the British Heart Foundation. The following can be symptoms of high blood pressure:
- Blurred vision
- Nosebleeds
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Headaches
What causes high blood pressure?
It's not always clear what causes high blood pressure, but there are things that can increase your risk, says the NHS.
You might be more at risk if you:
- are overweight
- smoke
- are over 65
- have a relative with high blood pressure or who has had a heart attack or stroke
- are of black African or black Caribbean descent
Where you can get a blood pressure check
You can get your blood pressure tested at a number of places, including:
- your local GP surgery
- some pharmacies
- some workplaces
Blood pressure machines vary, but they're all a type of measuring device, which often have an arm cuff attached to it. The cuff is usually wrapped around your upper arm and filled with air until it feels tight. This can feel uncomfortable, but it only lasts a few seconds. An automatic device usually picks up the measurements from sensors in the arm cuff, which are sent to a digital display.
Find a full list of tips for healthy blood pressure from the NHS here.
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