An NHS GP has advised people to buy a £30 device this October that could save their lives from the biggest ‘silent killer’. Dr Mark Porter said a new study had revealed just how serious the problem is with people who have high blood pressure but don’t know it.
Study reveals scale of undiagnosed hypertension
Writing in The Times, Dr Porter said the Our Future Health Study found just over a third of the 1.4 million participants had the ‘silent threat’ of high readings, ranging from one in seven 18 to 39-year-olds to nearly three quarters of those aged 80 or older.
The study said over one-third (37%) of participants had hypertension – including one in six people aged 18-39. Yet the majority (59%) had never received a diagnosis and were not on blood pressure-lowering medication.
Stroke risk and the 'silent killer'
Dr Porter, who has appeared on the BBC, said: “Most worrying of all, six out of ten of them were blissfully unaware they had a problem, putting them at increased risk of complications such as an early stroke. Around 100,000 people in the UK will have a stroke this year, and high blood pressure is a factor in about half of them.
“And while most common in older people, one in four strokes now happen in people of working age, a proportion that has risen in recent years. The singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka is the latest example to make the news: he is just 39 and recovering from ‘a bleed in my brain brought on by high blood pressure’.”
Why home monitoring matters
Dr Porter said the results prove people need to take action. He said: ”Put it this way: lowering someone’s readings is only part of the solution, albeit a vital one. So if you don’t have a blood pressure monitor at home, please consider buying one. I favour monitors with an upper-arm cuff. You don’t need to spend a lot — £30 should get you a good one — just make sure it is an approved type like those sold by the British Heart Foundation.”
Our Future Health’s Dr Iain Turnbull said: “High blood pressure matters because it damages blood vessels and puts strain on our heart and other organs. It’s often symptomless, but over time, it can increase the risk of serious conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and vascular dementia. It’s known as a ‘silent killer’.
“That’s why GPs like me are so keen to get ahead of high blood pressure. If we spot it early, we can take action to help our patients avoid serious long-term consequences.
“Ideal levels vary depending on the individual’s age and health, but in general people are looking for a reading below 140/90mmHg in a clinic setting, where people tend to be more anxious, and an average of under 135/85mmHg for readings taken at home.
Risks beyond stroke and advice for over-35s
Dr Porter explained: “There are 4.2 million adults in England who have high blood pressure but don’t know it. And the associated risks extend far beyond stroke. The pressure in our circulation tends to rise with age as our arteries lose their elasticity and become less flexible, and it can create a dangerous spiral as the rise in pressure further “ages” the delicate lining of arteries supplying the heart, brain, eyes, kidneys and other organs.
“As well as strokes, high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack, kidney failure, dementia, visual loss and erectile dysfunction; risks that can all be mitigated by treatment and diet and lifestyle modifications.”
“It’s never too early to start checking yours, but I have long advised my patients to keep a regular eye on theirs once they reach 35. If it is in the healthy range then you can put the monitor away for six months or so, but if it’s higher, seek advice.”
