‘Silent killer’ warning as Londoners in their 20s and 30s urged to check blood pressure

Young adults across London are being urged not to wait until they feel unwell before checking their blood pressure, after new research revealed widespread misconceptions about who is at risk.

A poll commissioned by charity Blood Pressure UK found that 84% of Londoners aged 18 to 50 believe too many people wait until they feel unwell before having their blood pressure checked.

Despite this, fewer than half (49%) said they had been tested in the past year.

Almost a quarter, 23%, wrongly believed people would usually know they had high blood pressure because they would feel ill, while 16% thought blood pressure checks were not relevant to adults under the age of 40.

The London findings, based on 571 adults, have been released to coincide with Blood Pressure UK’s Know Your Numbers! Week, which runs from 7 to 13 September.

The charity is warning that high blood pressure can affect adults of any age and usually has no obvious symptoms, meaning people can live with the condition for years without knowing.

If left undiagnosed and untreated, high blood pressure can damage blood vessels and vital organs and increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney disease, vascular dementia and premature death.

Dr Pauline Swift, Chair of Blood Pressure UK, said: “High blood pressure does not usually make you feel ill, which is exactly why it is so dangerous.

“Too many people are waiting for a warning sign that may never come. By the time high blood pressure causes a stroke, heart attack, or serious kidney damage, the harm may already be irreversible.

“Blood pressure checks are not just for older people or those who are already unwell. Adults in their 20s and 30s also need to know their numbers. A simple check takes only a few minutes and could identify a serious health risk early enough to do something about it.”

The research also showed strong support among Londoners for making blood pressure testing more accessible.

Some 85% supported free checks being offered in everyday locations including pharmacies, workplaces, gyms, supermarkets and community venues, while 80% said the Government should do more to raise awareness that high blood pressure can affect adults of all ages.

Blood Pressure UK is calling for a sustained national awareness campaign and wants free testing to become more widely available outside traditional healthcare settings.

Phil Pyatt, CEO of Blood Pressure UK, said: “The Government must stop treating blood pressure testing as something that mainly happens in a GP surgery or after people reach middle age.

“Checks should become a normal and convenient part of everyday life, available in the places people already visit. Knowing your blood pressure should be as routine as knowing your weight or shoe size.”

The charity estimates that around 4.2 million adults in England are living with high blood pressure without knowing it.

One of the lesser-known consequences is kidney damage. High blood pressure is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease and can both cause kidney problems and make existing disease worse, potentially resulting in kidney failure and the need for dialysis or a transplant.

The poll also found that 45% of Londoners who had previously had their blood pressure tested could not recall, even roughly, what their most recent reading was.

Blood Pressure UK is encouraging adults to have their blood pressure checked regularly, either using a validated home monitor or through a pharmacy or GP practice.

Its campaign message this year is: “You know your age, do you know your numbers?”

For more information, visit bloodpressureuk.org