High blood pressure, also known as hypertension is a condition that affects the arteries in the body. The blood’s constant pressure against the artery walls is too high if you have high blood pressure. Therefore, the heart has to work harder to pump blood. Keep reading to learn various high blood pressure risks and how you can check your blood pressure at one our pharmacies in the West Midlands.
High blood pressure risks
High blood pressure is a condition when the blood continually exerts a lot of pressure against the artery walls. If untreated, high blood pressure can result in a number of severe health risks, such as:
Heart disease
Heart failure, coronary artery disease, and an enlarged heart can all be caused by high blood pressure, which makes the heart work harder.
Stroke
High blood pressure increases the chance of blood clots, which can cause stroke, and damages blood vessels.
Kidney damage
The blood vessels in the kidneys can become damaged by high blood pressure, which can cause renal disease or even kidney failure.
Vision loss
Blood vessels in the eyes can be affected by high blood pressure, which can result in blindness or visual loss.
Sexual dysfunction
Blood flow to the genitals can be impacted by high blood pressure. This can cause erectile dysfunction in men or diminished sexual desire in women.
Cognitive impairment
High blood pressure can harm the brain’s blood vessels and cause cognitive dysfunction, such as memory loss and difficulty concentrating.
Peripheral artery disease
The arteries in the legs and feet might narrow due to high blood pressure. This reduces blood flow and raises the risk of infection or amputation.
What are the 5 factors that affect your blood pressure?
Your blood pressure can be impacted by a number of things, including:
Age
Your blood vessels get stiffer and less flexible as you become older, which might raise your blood pressure.
Weight
Carrying a lot of additional weight or being obese might strain your heart and blood vessels more, raising your blood pressure.
Physical activity
By strengthening and increasing the effectiveness of your heart and blood vessels, regular exercise can help to lower your blood pressure.
Diet
Eating a diet high in sodium, saturated fats, and processed foods can raise your blood pressure.
Stress
Using healthy stress management techniques, like exercise, meditation, or deep breathing, can help decrease blood pressure. Chronic stress can lead your body to generate hormones that elevate it.
How can I find out if I have high blood pressure?
The severity and duration of hypertension, as well as your general health and other cardiovascular disease risk factors, can all affect how long you can survive with uncontrolled high blood pressure.
It’s crucial if you have the high blood pressure to coordinate with your healthcare provider to create a treatment plan. This will take into account your needs and risk factors, as well as frequently monitor your blood pressure to make sure it’s under control.
The NHS Community Pharmacy Hypertension Case-Finding Advanced Service
The NHS Community Pharmacy Blood Pressure Check Programme also known as the NHS Community Pharmacy Hypertension Case-Finding Advanced Service promotes risk assessment and cardiovascular disease prevention (CVD).
This service:
- Encourages service users to adopt healthy behaviours.
- Identifies adults over 40 who have not yet received a diagnosis of hypertension (high blood pressure), and sends individuals who may have the condition for proper treatment.
- Refers those with high blood pressure to a general practitioner for continued treatment to manage their condition.
How can I avoid high blood pressure risks and get a check in the West Midlands?
Visit or book your appointment with your nearest Knights Pharmacy to check your blood pressure and avoid high blood pressure risks. You can also shop online at Chemist.net for at-home monitoring devices.
This post was written on behalf of Knights Pharmacy by Pharmacy Mentor
