Rebecca Field was shocked to discover that her blood pressure was dangerously high when she was just 21 years old.

Her parents had both died young due to high blood pressure; her mother from a stroke at 61 and her father from heart disease at 65.
Because of this Rebecca was closely monitored by doctors as there was a likelihood she too would have high blood pressure, but she was still not ready to hear the news she dreaded during a routine check-up.

"Because of what happened to mum and dad I knew it was something that could happen to me, but I thought I would be in my 40s," she says.

"I was really upset and angry. I realised that for the rest of my life I was going to have to take tablets every day."

What made matters worse was that Rebecca felt fine, she had no symptoms or indication that her blood pressure was 160/100 – 120/80 is the norm.

People with high blood pressure, diagnosed with readings consistently at or above 140/90mmHg, are three times more likely to develop heart disease and stroke than people with a healthy blood pressure, and twice as likely to die from these conditions.

As well as taking tablets Rebecca, now 32, has adopted a healthier lifestyle and takes regular exercise. She is now urging people to get their blood pressure checked before it is too late.

She is backing the Blood Pressure Association Know your Numbers Week (September 8-14) where people can receive a free blood pressure check at more than 2,000 Pressure Stations nationwide, including many in the Leeds area.

Results taken from Pressure Stations in Yorkshire during Know your Numbers Week last year, indicated that 51 per cent of the people who received a blood pressure test had a high reading. In fact, 45 per cent of those tested in the Yorkshire and Humber region as a whole had high blood pressure readings and the region was in the top three for high blood pressure.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure is like a hidden time bomb which can cause stroke, heart attack and heart failure.

Like Rebecca, most people who have high blood pressure will have to take tablets for the rest of their life.

However, according to the Blood Pressure Association, many people are putting their lives at risk by not taking their medication.

Research from the British Medical Journal shows that half of people on blood pressure medicines stop taking them within a year and miss about 10 per cent of scheduled doses. "This means that millions of people are putting their lives at risk because once they stop taking their tablets their blood pressure increases, as does their risk of stroke and heart attack," said a BPA spokesman.

www.bpassoc.org.uk


What is high blood pressure?

When you have your blood pressure measured it is written 140/90Hg, which is said "140 over 90".

The first number is your systolic pressure, when your heart is pushing blood round your body. The second is the diastolic pressure, when your heart relaxes. A healthy blood pressure is a level of 120/80 or less. 140/90 is the level used to diagnose high blood pressure. If your blood pressure is consistently at this level or above, it will need to be treated, to reduce your risk of stroke and heart attack.


Cut your blood pressure risk

The following changes to your diet and activity can have a real effect on your blood pressure.

Eat less salt – Too much salt raises your blood pressure, so eat as little as possible. Most of the salt you eat is not what you add to your food but hidden in prepared foods like bread, cereals and ready meals.

Eat more fruit and vegetables – Eating more fruit and vegetables helps to lower your blood pressure. Adults should eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day. Eat a range of different fruits and vegetables. Dried, frozen and tinned are fine, but watch out for added salt, sugar or fats.

Drink less alcohol – Think about what you are drinking. You should drink no more than three or four units of alcohol a day if you are a man and no more than two to three a day if you are a woman. Binge drinking is particularly bad for your blood pressure.

Keep to a healthy weight – Losing weight, if you need to, will help to lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of health problems. The best way to lose weight is to choose more low-fat and low-calorie foods, and increase your activity.

Get more active – 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times a week can keep your heart healthy, and can lower your blood pressure. If you don't have 30 minutes a day to spare, increasing your activity by even a small amount can help. Think how you can be more active in your daily life.