Hypertension – get checked!
02 April 2024
Did you know that hypertension (high blood pressure) usually has no signs or symptoms but is the largest known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). People with RA are at a heightened risk of high blood pressure so it will be important to check regularly.
It is estimated that 32% of all adults have high blood pressure and in adults aged 65 and over, 60% of the population have high blood pressure. The condition rarely has any noticeable symptoms and there are around 4.2 million adults with high blood pressure who are undiagnosed.
Left untreated, high blood pressure can increase your risk of a number of serious and potentially life-threatening health conditions, such as heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and vascular dementia.
It is well established that people with RA have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and therefore it is very important to ask to have screening. The most simple screening procedure is checking your blood pressure.
Ways you can get your blood pressure checked:
- At any doctor or nurse appointments
- Most GP surgeries also have a BP monitor available for use by anyone who drops in to take their BP
- At home with your own blood pressure monitor
- Free at a participating pharmacy for over 40s – https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/pharmacies/find-a-pharmacy-that-offers-free-blood-pressure-checks/?WT.mc_ID=CVD24_PR&wt.tsrc=affiliate