High blood pressure (also called hypertension) can lead to serious cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks or strokes. There are usually no symptoms, so you may not realise you have it. In fact, according to the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, one in four people (12.8m) have hypertension that we know of and a further one in thirteen (4.4m) have undiagnosed hypertension and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Indeed, because hypertension often has no symptoms cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of premature death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year despite being preventable for most people and easily managed once people’s hypertension is diagnosed.
It should come as no surprise therefore that identifying undiagnosed hypertension is a priority if we are to support people to stay healthier for longer. To help us in that quest we need as many people as possible to participate in the following survey, which will help us improve the way that NHS organisations work together to support people to maintain a healthy blood pressure and help ensure vital public health messages successfully reach those who are most at risk of developing serious illness.
