{"id":410075,"date":"2025-09-09T09:25:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T09:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/410075\/"},"modified":"2025-09-09T09:25:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T09:25:13","slug":"nhs-warning-over-silent-killer-as-brits-told-know-your-numbers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/410075\/","title":{"rendered":"NHS warning over ‘silent killer’ as Brits told ‘know your numbers’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Millions of people in the UK are thought to be living with this potentially dangerous condition without realising it<\/p>\n

06:00, 09 Sep 2025Updated 07:13, 09 Sep 2025<\/p>\n

\"WomanThe NHS has told people to “know your numbers” when it comes to your blood pressure(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n

The NHS has issues a warning over a \u201csilent killer\u201d affecting millions of Brits. People have been urged to \u201cknow your numbers\u201d when it comes to your blood pressure<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure is a condition where the force of your blood against your artery walls is consistently too high<\/a>. Over time this can cause damage to the blood vessels as well as organs.<\/p>\n

It is also a key contributing factor to many serious medical issues. However, it typically doesn’t appear with any symptoms – earning it the nickname of “silent killer”.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"InYou can get your blood pressure checked by a professional or you can buy a kit to use at home yourself(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n

It is estimated that millions of people in the UK currently have high blood pressure, but aren\u2019t aware. In a post made to X, the NHS<\/a> said: \u201cThe best way to understand your blood pressure is to check it regularly.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur online blood pressure tool will help you understand what your numbers mean and give you tips on how to manage your blood pressure.\u201d You can access the online tool here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year the British Heart Foundation<\/a> (BHF) reported that as many as 125,000 heart attacks and strokes could be prevented in the coming decade by finding and treating the millions of people with undiagnosed high blood pressure in the UK.<\/p>\n

The charity warned that failing to do so risks creating a \u201cpowder keg\u201d of future ill health that threatens to \u201cdevastate families\u201d and pile \u201cunsustainable pressure\u201d on the NHS. Around half of heart attacks and strokes are linked to high blood pressure condition, it said.<\/p>\n

The BHF said: \u201cOf the 16 million adults in the UK estimated to have high blood pressure, up to half are not receiving effective treatment, our latest estimates show. As many as five million are estimated to have undiagnosed high blood pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Content cannot be displayed without consentWhat is considered to be high blood pressure?<\/p>\n

The only way to be sure if your blood pressure is too high is to get it tested. You can do this either with an at-home kit or by asking your GP or pharmacist.<\/p>\n

Blood pressure readings are given as two numbers, with the first number higher than the second (for example, 130\/80). According to the NHS, if you’re under 80 years of age, you’re usually considered to have high blood pressure if your reading is either:<\/p>\n