Hypertension is one of the biggest killers in the UK, but it is largely preventable. Pharmacy teams can raise awareness of the condition and encourage people to get screened during May Measurement Month

Some 10 million people worldwide die every year because of hypertension (high blood pressure), making it the world’s single biggest killer. Closer to home, high blood pressure is the third biggest risk factor, behind smoking and diet, for premature death and disability in England.

More than one in four adults in the UK suffer from hypertension, which puts them at risk of a number of serious and potentially life-threatening conditions, including heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, kidney disease and vascular dementia.

Hypertension accounts for approximately 12 per cent of all GP consultations in England and is estimated to cost the NHS £2.1 billion each year, highlighting the fact that the impact of the condition goes well beyond the individual. But the good news – for individuals as well as the NHS – is that hypertension is both preventable and treatable. 

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that everyone with hypertension sticks to a healthy lifestyle as treatment, as this can achieve dramatic blood pressure reduction and the same measures can reduce people’s risk of developing the condition in the first place.

Worryingly, only four in 10 adults with hypertension are diagnosed and managing the condition in line with NICE recommendations. There are around seven million people in the UK who are unaware that they have the condition at all. This is partly because hypertension can be present without showing any outward symptoms. It’s often called ‘the silent killer’, and some people only find out they have it after they suffer a heart attack or stroke or are diagnosed with something else, such as heart or kidney disease. 

This is why having regular blood pressure checks, whether they’re part of an NHS Health Check, GP appointment, pharmacy visit or a self test at home, is so important, especially for those over the age of 40. 

The earlier hypertension is detected, the more likely people are to change their lifestyle, and reduce their risk of complications developing. It’s a test that could literally save a life.

Screening strategy

In a bid to raise public awareness of the importance of blood pressure screening, the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) and the World Hypertension League (WHL) have launched a global initiative called ‘May Measurement Month’.

Building on WHL’s World Hypertension Day, which has taken place annually on 17 May since it was launched in 2005, May Measurement Month will see around 25 million adults in 100 countries across the world have blood pressure screening. The data for each person screened will be entered into an app for analysis and anyone found to have hypertension will be given 10 top tips for making lifestyle changes to help lower their blood pressure.

It is hoped that the results from this ambitious project will reveal just how big the problem of hypertension is and increase public awareness of the condition, as well as demonstrate to governments across the world the importance of raising public awareness and developing better blood pressure screening facilities and treatment.

Commenting on the initiative, Neil Poulter, ISH president, said: “This could change the face of hypertension and the hideous premature mortality that high blood pressure causes.”

He added that pharmacies across the world will play a central role in making May Measurement Month a success and urged pharmacies in the UK to get involved in delivering the largest ever global blood pressure screening initiative. You can find out more about how to get involved at: maymeasure.com.

The next step

Encouraging people to have a blood pressure test is only the first hurdle. Hypertension is a largely preventable and easily manageable condition and educating people about how to go about this is key.

Simple lifestyle changes can have a big impact on blood pressure levels and quality of life, whatever a person’s blood pressure result. Pharmacy staff can therefore encourage everyone to:

• Adopt a healthy diet
• Keep their salt and sugar intake low
• Reduce excessive consumption of coffee and other caffeine-rich products
• Reduce their alcohol intake if they drink excessively
• Take regular exercise 
• Stop smoking.

Worryingly, only four in 10 adults with hypertension are diagnosed and managing the condition