Know Your Numbers Week – do you know your blood pressure?

This week is Know Your Numbers Week – a UK-wide campaign that encourages adults to get their blood pressure checked. It's simple, free, and could be lifesaving.

Why know your numbers?

High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, which is why so many people don't realise they are affected.

This matters because if left untreated, high blood pressure increases strain on the heart, and can lead to heart attack, stroke and heart failure.

Lots of factors can increase the risk of high blood pressure, including:

• increasing age
• family history
• carrying lots of weight around your middle
• smoking
• an unhealthy diet
• not enough exercise
• ethnicity - people of black African and black Caribbean origin are more likely to be diagnosed with high blood pressure
• stress
• gender – up to their 60s, females tend to have lower blood pressure than males, but this changes at 65 and older, when females are more likely to get high blood pressure. This is thought to be due to hormonal changes after menopause.

What's my blood pressure?

The only way to know if your blood pressure is high is to have it checked. Adults aged 40 and over should aim to have their blood pressure checked at least every five years.

If you're 40+, you can find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks here.

If you're under 40, check with your pharmacy if it's free (some offer free checks from age 18+). Your GP surgery will also offer checks. You can also check at home using a home blood pressure monitor. The NHS has some tips on doing this here, to get an accurate reading.

What the numbers mean

When you have your blood pressure measured, you'll get two numbers, one over the other, e.g. 120/80 mmHg (millimetres of mercury, the measurement for blood pressure).

• Systolic pressure: the top number. This is the highest pressure (force) exerted on your blood vessels when your heart beats, pumping blood around your body.
• Diastolic pressure: the bottom number. This is the pressure exerted on your blood vessels when your heart relaxes between each heartbeat.

Your blood pressure is usually considered to be normal if it falls between 90/60 mmHg and 130/85 mmHg.

Blood pressure is usually considered high if it's either:

• 140/90 or higher when checked by a healthcare professional
• 135/85 or higher when checked at home

A one-off high reading doesn't necessarily mean you have high blood pressure, as various things can temporarily raise it, including stress, caffeine and exercise. So if you have a high reading, you might be asked to measure it again on another day, when rested.

What happens if I'm diagnosed with high blood pressure?

High blood pressure can be managed with lifestyle changes, but most people will also need medication too. Your GP will discuss medication options with you. Lifestyle changes include:

• Eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables and fibre
• Including regular exercise in your lifestyle
• Limiting the amount of alcohol you drink
• Stopping smoking if you smoke
• Lowering your salt intake (no more than 6g a day)

If you want to learn more about lifestyle changes to manage hogh blood pressure, Heart Research UK have a 6-week email course — sign up here.

Know Your Numbers Week runs all week — pop into your local pharmacy or GP surgery and get checked. It only takes a few minutes, and it could make all the difference.