Around one-third of UK adults have high blood pressure, but as the condition rarely has any symptoms, many people are oblivious to this fact. This is a cause for concern, as raised blood pressure is a leading risk factor for a stroke, aneurysm and heart attack. Anyone at increased risk of high blood pressure should receive a check up each year, though even the healthy over 40s need a five yearly blood pressure check and for anyone who has never had their blood pressure checked there is no time like the present. New recommendations from the Joint British Societies covering the prevention of cardiovascular disease offer clear guidance on the management of hypertension. The guidelines published in the journal Heart also offer specific direction for treating high blood pressure that co-exists with diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

For blood pressure that is consistently above 140/90mmHg, this indicates a diagnosis of hypertension, though the new guidelines recommend ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for confirmation, with an ambulatory reading above 135/85 pointing to high blood pressure. According to the guidance everyone diagnosed with raised blood pressure should receive lifestyle advice, as addressing a high body mass index, inactivity, smoking and a poor diet can reduce the need for antihypertensive medication. With a blood pressure reading above 160/100mmHg in clinic or an ambulatory reading above 150/95mmHg medication is advisable, though a reading above 140/90mmHg in someone with existing cardiovascular disease, diabetes or chronic kidney disease is enough to initiate blood pressure lowering drugs.

For both type 1 and 2 diabetes the guidelines state that achieving a blood pressure below 130/80mmHg will achieve better outcomes, particularly if the under 40s can achieve a pressure under 120/75mmHg. While blood pressure recommendations for stage 3 to 5 of chronic kidney disease are to achieve a reading below 140/90mmHg, in the presence of raised levels of protein in the urine, the goal changes to a blood pressure reading less than 130/80mmHg to reduce the risk of complications.

Cardiac Screen offers a range of tests designed to identify anyone at risk of cardiovascular disease and those patients who have pre-existing heart problems. Besides a standard blood pressure check, a 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure check is available to aid the diagnosis of hypertension and assess the effectiveness of blood pressure lowering interventions. This non-invasive test provides an accurate assessment of blood pressure, allowing adjustment to lifestyle and medications to reduce the risk of a haemorrhagic stroke, cerebral infarct, aneurysm and heart attack.