If everybody over 40 had their blood pressure checked, that would really save lives. There’s nothing magical or mysterious about it.
People with unhealthily high blood pressure may have no symptoms at all however. They can appear very fit, and feel very well, and still be a ticking time bomb.
Some pharmacists have a blood pressure machine in their shop. A few very with-it general practitioners keep one for everyone to use in the waiting room. But if you don’t have access to either of these, just make an appointment with your practice nurse. Tell them you’ve been told it’s sensible to get your blood pressure checked, and they will be delighted to see you.
All that happens is that you sit down, roll your sleeve up and they’ll wrap the band around your upper arm, pump it up, and then take the reading. Something like 120 over 70 would be nice. It’s your relaxed pressure, the lower number, that is most relevant. It tends to rise as you age, but you really don’t want to see a lower figure getting close to 100. If the nurse is worried about the measurement, they will refer you to the doctor.
This is not about being neurotic; keeping an eye on your body is just in everybody’s interest. And if you do have high blood pressure, there is still a good chance of lowering it successfully. For some people, a change of lifestyle will be enough; others may need medication as well. Either way, that appointment might well have saved your life.
• Lynn Young is the Royal College of Nursing’s primary care adviser. (As told to Leo Benedictus.)
• This article was amended on 23 February 2011 to remove inaccurate information about blood clots and amend advice about the frequency of blood pressure checks.
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