Health experts have shared five top tips that could help people spot the early signs of a common 'silent killer' - including bloodshot eyes.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, can lead to a number of serious health complications - and often goes unnoticed for many years.
The condition puts added stress on your blood vessels and vital organs by forcing your heart to work harder to pump blood around your body, and is known to cause heart attacks and strokes.
Though there are not many tell-tale signs, people with very high blood pressure will occasionally experience headaches, bloodshot eyes, nausea, and general ill health.
But there are also other less well-known signs that could potentially save your life, according to the British Heart Foundation.
These include:
- Blurred vision
- Nosebleeds
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Dizziness.
According to online chemists Pharmacy2U, "millions of people in the UK" are unaware that they have high blood pressure, and the only way to be sure you're within a healthy range is by checking it.
“Even though you may not exhibit any symptoms or become noticeably ill, high blood pressure is still a serious condition.
“When your blood pressure is too high, it will strain your heart, blood vessels, and other organs," they added.
Thankfully, free blood pressure checks can be taken in-person at your GP surgery, practice nurse, and some pharmacies.
People over the age of 40 in England can have their reading checked as part of an NHS Health Check, which is offered every five years.
Pharmacy2U added: “Blood pressure is recorded using two numbers: the first reflects the pressure on the arteries during a heartbeat, and the second number is between heartbeats."
A recent study showed around 170,000 of people aged 16 to 24 could unknowingly have high blood pressure, despite a common misconception that it occurs only in older people.
This is equivalent to five in 100 young men and one in 100 young women, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Contrary to popular assumption, it can develop at any age and might not cause any symptoms to begin with.
This means the condition can often go unnoticed, despite putting extra strain on the blood vessels and heart.
