Healthy Hearts

First things first, it is important to understand what blood pressure actually is.

In the video linked below. The British Heart Foundation explain what blood pressure is.

You blood pressure may vary from time to time, so if you are having a regular check you may see it go up or down, however the local NHS Integrated Care Board have created a very helpful guide which we have linked below, that will support you to understand exactly what your blood pressure reading means, and provides advice on what to should do.

If you have a machine you can use at home, use this guide from the NHS to ensure you check your blood pressure accurately at nhs.uk/health-assessment-tools/check-your-blood-pressure-reading

High blood pressure, sometimes known as hypertension rarely has any signs or symptoms which is why it can sometimes be referred to as the 'silent killer' (which is also why it is so important to check your blood pressure regularly!)

High blood pressure if left undetected and untreated can cause the arteries and vessels that carry blood around the body to harden, thicken and weaken, eventually putting you at risk of a heart attack or stroke. 

More information about high blood pressure can be found in the following link: 

bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/high-blood-pressure-latest-news 

High blood pressure is a serious condition and if not picked up could lead to more serious conditions such as heart attack or a stroke.

There are many things which can cause high blood pressure, some of which we can do something about!

Some causes of high blood pressure cannot be avoided but we can still take action to reduce our risk and avoid further problems or complications.

The main causes of high blood pressure are listed below:

• Eating foods containing too much salt and not having enough fruits or vegetables
• Too much alcohol
• Smoking cigarettes
• Family history of high blood pressure
• Not moving our bodies very much or doing very little exercise
• Carrying extra weight - especially if it is around the tummy.
• People who are of black African or black Caribbean descent
• People aged 65+

If someone in your family (who is related to you by blood) has been diagnosed with high blood pressure or have experienced a heart attack or stroke, you may be at increased risk too. 

Your risk is increased if more than one of your immediate your family members you are related to by blood have high blood pressure, such as your parents, siblings, child, grandparents, auntie, uncle, niece, nephew or cousins.

You are at greater risk if:

• your father or brother was under the age of 55 when they were diagnosed or
• your mother or sister was under the age of 65 when they were diagnosed.

If you do have high blood pressure in your family, do not worry. There are things you can do to help reduce your risk. Click on the tab below to find out more. 

You may have discovered that you are at greater risk of having high blood pressure due to your age or family history, which sadly cannot be changed, however there are still plenty of things you can do to protect yourself from developing high blood pressure or related illness or conditions in the future. 

Here are some things you may wish to consider:

• Do more exercise - All adults are recommended to do at least 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise (which raises your heart rate, makes you out of breath and makes you feel slightly warmer). Discover more about exercise and find local support to help you get started at healthysuffolk.org.uk/Movement
  
  
• Work towards a healthy weight - If you are considered overweight this could be increasing your risk of high blood pressure. Losing some weight may improve your health and reduce your risk. The local Feel Good Suffolk service can support you to make some positive changes that could result in you losing weight. Find out more at feelgoodsuffolk.co.uk
  
  
• Improve your diet - You may not need to lose any weight, but that does not mean you cannot make some simple changes to the foods you are eating. Eating foods high in salt and not having enough fresh fruit and veg could be increasing your risk of high blood pressure. Perhaps you could make some simple swaps? Discover the best and worst foods for high blood pressure in the link below and start setting your goals today. 
  bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/nutrition/foods-that-lower-blood-pressure
  
• Reduce the amount of alcohol you're drinking - We are recommended to drink no more than 14 units of alcohol each week. Understand your drinking habits and consider changes you could make to reduce your risk of high blood pressure at drinkcoach.org.uk/alcohol-test-suffolk
  
  
• Stop smoking - Smoking is very harmful to your heart and can increase your blood pressure. In fact your blood pressure will begin to return to normal after just 20 minutes of stopping smoking. Check out the video below to understand how smoking affects your heart. For local support to stop smoking visit feelgoodsuffolk.co.uk/stop-smoking/

There are now a number of SiSU machines in Suffolk which will take your blood pressure without the need for an appointment with your GP Practice. 

You can find a machine in the following locations:

Lowestoft

• Lowestoft Library, Clapham Road South, NR32 1DR (From 16th September)

Ipswich and East

• On board the Be Well Bus – browse the Bus timetable and keep an eye on the following events page for more details suffolkandnortheastessex.icb.nhs.uk/event/s pages
• Gainsborough Library – Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 0RL
• Riverside Clinic – 2 Landseer Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 0AZ
• Unity Centre – Meredith Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 6ED
• Westgate House, 1 Museum Street, Ipswich, IP1 1HQ

West Suffolk

• Haverhill Library – Camp Road, Town Centre, Haverhill, CB9 8HB
• Newbury Centre – 1 Charles Place, Howard Estate, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP32 6TD
• The Racing Centre – Fred Archer Way, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 8NT
• Sudbury Art Centre, Market Hill, Sudbury, Suffolk, C010 2EA
• Courtyard Café, West Suffolk Hospital, Hardwick Lane, Bury, IP33 2QZ

Check out the video link below to learn more about how to use the SiSU machine before going along to getting your blood pressure checked.

Many doctors surgeries now have a self- service blood pressure machine in their waiting area or reception which means you do not require an appointment with a GP to get your blood pressure checked. 

Note: You must be a patient at the surgery to access and use the BP machine.

If you do have concerns about your blood pressure and would like to have a GP or nurse check it and discuss your concerns then you will need to make an appointment. 

Many community pharmacies will offer a blood pressure check. Click the link below to find a pharmacy local to you offering this service.  

nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy-that-offers-free-blood-pressure-checks

Home blood pressure monitoring enables people with high blood pressure to measure and share their blood pressure readings with their GP from their home.

Sometimes your GP Practice may have monitors available to lend to you for free, or there are a variety of low-cost blood pressure monitors available that you can buy to use at home. The British Heart Foundation online shop has blood pressure monitors approved by the British and Irish Hypertension Society, which can be accessed at giftshop.bhf.org.uk/health-fitness/health-monitoring/blood-pressure-monitors

Home blood pressure monitoring is a priority for heart disease management and further information can be found on the British Heart Foundation website bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/support/manage-your-blood-pressure-at-home

Check out and follow the video linked below to check your blood pressure at home.

If you are aged 40 - 74 years old you may be eligible for an NHS Health check. 

The NHS Health Check is a free check-up of your overall health. It can tell you whether you're at higher risk of getting certain health problems, such as:

• heart disease
• diabetes
• kidney disease
• stroke

The check takes about 20 to 30 minutes and usually includes:

• measuring your height and weight
• measuring your waist
• a blood pressure test
• a cholesterol test, and possibly a blood sugar level test, which is usually a finger-prick blood test. You may be asked to have a blood test at or before the NHS Health Check

You’ll also be asked some questions about your health including:

• whether any of your close relatives have had any medical conditions
• if you smoke, and how much
• if you drink alcohol, and how much
• how much physical activity you do

Your age, gender and ethnicity will also be recorded.

If you think you are eligible but have not been invited, contact your GP surgery to find out if they offer NHS Health Checks, ask in your local pharmacy or discover more about the NHS Health Checks being delivered by the Suffolk GP Federation (The Fed) at suffolkfed.org.uk/healthcare-services/nhs-health-checks/