Fighting high blood pressure (hypertension)
Average rating:
I have high blood pressure which needs regular checking so I use a Intellisense Blood Pressure Wrist Monitor, £79.99 from Boots. It saves me seeing my doctor all the time.
Marian Suhren, 56, Carlisle, Cumbria
A clove of garlic a day keeps the doctor away. Well, that's what my mum always says. It's good for preventing blood clots and lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, so it's great for people with hypertension.
Carol Kelman, 46, Hammersmith, London
Average rating:
Sue Massey, about 1 year
High blood pressure is a serious condition which causes strokes, heart attacks and dementia if uncontrolled. UK charity the Blood Pressure Association says the good news is it can be treated and often prevented, but the first step is to have a blood pressure check. High blood pressure is known as the 'silent killer' because it doesn't have any obvious symptoms, so the only way to know what your blood pressure is and if it needs to be lowered, is to have a check. If your blood pressure is consistently at or above 140/90mmHg then you have high blood pressure and it will need to be lowered. This can be done through making changes to your lifestyle, like cutting down on salt (watch out for 'hidden' salt in food), eating more fruit and vegetables, taking regular exercise and losing weight if you need to. Some people will also need to take blood pressure lowering medication prescribed by a doctor. These are all clinically proven and effective ways to reduce blood pressure and maintain it at a healthy level. A healthy blood pressure is less than 120/80mmHg. The Blood Pressure Association encourages home blood pressure monitoring and there are a range of blood pressure monitors on the market, but it's important to make sure the one you choose is accurate and clinically validated. The Blood Pressure Association has a list of clinically validated monitors, including the BPA/Microlife home monitor, and information on all aspects of blood pressure on its website. Visit <a href="http://www.bpassoc.org.uk/" target="_blank">www.bpassoc.org.uk</a> for more details.
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