Blood Pressure

What is high blood pressure?

Blood pressure is simply the pressure of the blood on the walls of your arteries. Your blood pressure changes throughout the day and fluctuates due to many events such as stress, physical exercise, anxiety and emotion.

Over 5 million people in England are unaware that they have high blood pressure.

Many people are unaware that their blood pressure is raised because they do not experience any signs or symptoms. That’s why it’s important to have your blood pressure checked regularly to ensure you are not at risk.

Persistent high blood pressure can cause damage to your blood vessels which can contribute to severe long term health risks such as a stroke, heart disease and damage to the eyes and kidneys.

Who is at risk?

• Being overweight
• Having too much salt in your diet
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Smoking
• Not taking enough exercise
• Stress
• Drinking too much caffeine
• Being of African, Caribbean or South Asian descent

  
  The good news is that high blood pressure can be reduced by making simple lifestyle changes such as:
  

• Eat a well-balanced diet, aim for at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day
• Eat less salt in your diet
• Drink alcohol in moderation
• Lose weight if you need to
• Take regular exercise
• Stop smoking
• Learn to relax and take some time out from the stress and strains of daily life

At Temple Clinic we offer a Blood Pressure Measuring Service for only £3.

We can check your blood pressure in our private consultation room and follow up with advice to help you achieve a healthier lifestyle.

If we find that your blood pressure is persistently high then you will be referred to your doctor who can prescribe effective medicines that can significantly decrease your blood pressure.