This week marks Know Your Numbers! Week, running from September 7-13, when Blood Pressure UK urges the nation to find out their blood pressure reading and what it means. The charity has been sharing advice for Express Premium readers on how to take an accurate reading. And today, it’s chair Dr Pauline Swift explains why one worrying reading is not necessarily a reason to panic.
Blood Pressure UK typically describes a reading of 90/60 to 120/80 mmHg as ideal blood pressure, 120/80 to 135/85 mmHg as higher than ideal, high-normal, or “pre-high” blood pressure, and 135/85 mmHg or above as high blood pressure and should be followed up.
But Dr Swift added: “Blood pressure fluctuates, and stress, temperature, activity and what you have recently eaten or drunk can all influence a reading. If you get an unexpectedly high number, sit quietly for another five minutes and check it again.
“One isolated high reading does not necessarily mean you have high blood pressure. If your readings remain consistently raised, speak to your GP, practice nurse or pharmacist rather than trying to diagnose or treat yourself.
“And never stop prescribed blood pressure medication because your home readings have improved without first speaking to your doctor.”
When you first start monitoring at home, Blood Pressure UK advises taking readings in the morning and evening for a week. NICE similarly recommends twice-daily home measurements, ideally over seven days, when home monitoring is being used to help confirm hypertension.
Around five million people are thought to be living with undiagnosed high blood pressure in the UK — often described as a “silent killer” because it can have no symptoms until a serious problem arises.
Dr Swift added: “This Know Your Numbers! Week, I’d urge everyone, whatever their age, to make those few minutes count.
“Our poll found that 83% believe too many people wait until they feel unwell before getting their blood pressure checked, yet only around half had been tested in the past year.
“That must change. High blood pressure isn’t simply an older person’s problem, and it doesn’t usually announce itself with symptoms.
“Knowing your numbers gives you the chance to act before high blood pressure causes serious and potentially irreversible damage.
“A blood pressure check takes only a few minutes. Whatever your age, those could be some of the most important minutes you spend on your health this year.”
- You can find out more about blood pressure here.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
