You can feel perfectly well and still have high blood pressure.
That is what makes hypertension so important to understand.
High blood pressure often causes no symptoms at all, yet over time it can increase the risk of serious health problems including heart attacks and strokes.
For African and Caribbean communities, this conversation is particularly important.
What is blood pressure?
Every time your heart beats, it pumps blood around your body.
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force of that blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels.
When that pressure remains too high over time, it puts additional strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs.
This is known as high blood pressure or hypertension.
The difficulty is that most people cannot tell when their blood pressure is high.
You don’t necessarily feel dizzy.
You don’t necessarily get headaches.
You may feel completely normal.
The only reliable way to know is to have your blood pressure checked.
Why should Black communities pay particular attention?
The NHS identifies Black African and Black Caribbean ethnicity among the factors associated with an increased chance of having high blood pressure.
NHS analysis of Health Survey for England data has also previously found that, after accounting for age, hypertension was highest among Black Caribbean, Black African and Pakistani adults.
This doesn’t mean every Black person will develop hypertension.
It means it is particularly worthwhile for us to know our numbers.
What increases the risk?
There isn’t always one single cause of high blood pressure.
Several factors can increase your chances of developing it, including:
- getting older;
- having close relatives with high blood pressure;
- eating too much salt;
- being overweight;
- smoking;
- drinking too much alcohol;
- being physically inactive; and
- experiencing stress over a long period.
Ethnicity and family history are things we cannot change.
But many other risk factors are things we can influence.
Don’t abandon your culture – think about how food is prepared
Healthy eating does not mean giving up African or Caribbean food.
Our food is part of family, celebration, identity and culture.
Instead, think about how meals are prepared and how often particular foods are eaten.
Salt is particularly important when talking about blood pressure. Try tasting food before automatically adding extra salt and look at the salt content of seasonings, sauces and packaged foods.
Small changes made consistently can make a difference.
Get moving in a way you enjoy
Exercise doesn’t have to mean joining a gym.
Walking counts.
Dancing counts.
Cycling counts.
Gardening counts.
A community exercise class counts.
The best activity is often one you enjoy enough to keep doing.
If you haven’t exercised for some time or have a health condition that may affect what activity is suitable for you, speak to an appropriate healthcare professional before making major changes.
Know your numbers
One of the simplest things you can do for your health is to have your blood pressure checked.
Depending on your circumstances, checks may be available through your GP practice or a participating pharmacy. NHS guidance advises getting your blood pressure checked if you think you may have high blood pressure or could be at risk.
And don’t just hear the result and immediately forget it.
Ask:
What is my blood pressure?
Is that a healthy reading for me?
Do I need another check?
Is there anything I should change?
Do I need treatment?
If you have been prescribed medication, take it seriously
Lifestyle changes can help manage blood pressure, but some people will also need medication.
If you have concerns about your medication or experience side effects, speak to your GP, pharmacist or another appropriate healthcare professional rather than simply stopping it yourself.
Treatment is not a sign that you have failed.
The aim is to protect your health.
Start the conversation
High blood pressure is important enough that NHS England includes hypertension case-finding and optimal management among its national priorities for reducing healthcare inequalities, specifically because controlling blood pressure can help minimise the risk of heart attack and stroke.
So let’s make checking blood pressure normal.
Ask your parents.
Ask your partner.
Ask your brothers and sisters.
Encourage friends to get checked.
And get yours checked too.
You cannot tell your blood pressure simply by how you feel. Know your numbers and give yourself the opportunity to act early.