Under Pressure! Why Your Blood Pressure Matters More Than You Think..........

A blood pressure check is important because it’s one of the simplest ways to catch silent health problems before they become dangerous. Unfortunately, high blood pressure (Hypertension) often has no symptoms, yet it quietly increases the risk of Heart Attack, Stroke, Dementia, Kidney Disease, and other serious conditions.

Most people with high blood pressure feel completely normal. In the UK, an estimated 1 in 3 people suffer from high blood pressure and without testing, millions live with it unknowingly. In the UK alone, approximately 5 million people have undiagnosed high blood pressure. (British Heart Foundation, 2026).

So why is having a blood pressure check important?

Early detection — Hypertension usually causes no pain or warning signs. Regular checks can reveal underlying health problems long before you’d feel anything wrong.

Preventing complications — Untreated high blood pressure can damage arteries over time, raising the risk of stroke, heart disease, vision loss, and kidney failure.

Monitoring treatment — If you’re already on medication, have other conditions or are making lifestyle changes, regular checks show whether they’re working or need further adjustments.

Understanding your baseline — Knowing what your normal blood pressure is can help to identify changes early. A rise could be a warning sign that your heart and blood vessels are under strain.

Reducing long‑term risk — Catching and managing high blood pressure can lower the chance of serious health events later in life and even premature death.

What are the risk factors?

·       Age – blood pressure tends to rise with advancing age.

·       Gender – women tend to have lower blood pressure than men up to the age of 65 but then higher between 65-74 years of age.

·       Lifestyle – smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, excess dietary salt, unhealthy diet, obesity and lack of physical activity are associated with hypertension.

·        Genetic factors — A positive family history increases the risk of developing hypertension.

·        Ethnicity – people of black African and black Caribbean origin are more likely to be diagnosed with hypertension.

·        Social Deprivation.

·        Co-existing diabetes or kidney disease.

·        Anxiety and emotional stress (NICE, 2026).

Where to get your blood pressure checked?

Blood pressure machines are widely available and a good starting point to check your blood pressure.  However, it is advisable to have a trained health professional check it to ensure accurate and reliable measurement, essential for the correct diagnosis and management of hypertension.  The reading is one part of the picture, interpretation and clinical judgement are needed, and health professionals are likely to know your normal reading, can spot dangerous patterns, can explain what the numbers mean and respond quickly if further action is needed.

Don’t wait! Get a blood pressure check today, it could save your life.

**Holmes Health & Wellbeing will take your blood pressure as part of your 1 hour consultation..