Filed under: In the news
![Almost half of under-35s now have high blood pressure]()
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New figures reveal that almost half of britons under the age of 35 now have high blood pressure, which puts them at increased risk of stroke, heart attack and kidney disease.
Results of more than 100,000 blood pressure tests carried out by LloydsPharmacy since 2003 show that 70 per cent of adults now have readings above healthy limits - and the age at which people are affected is getting younger.
Although high blood pressure is most common among older people, 62 per cent of men aged 25-34 and 73 per cent of those aged 35-44 had above normal readings.
Among women, 39 per cent of 25-34 year olds had higher readings, along with 52 per cent of those aged 35-44.
The
Daily Mail reports that desk jobs, lack of exercise and unhealthy diets have contributed to the problem, which is known as the 'silent killer' because most people do not experience any symptoms.
Shafeeque Mohammed, heart health expert at LloydsPharmacy, told the Daily Mail that 120/80 is a healthy reading.
He said: "Anybody with a blood pressure of more than 140/90 should be concerned and needs to make lifestyle changes.
"Modern lifestyles are largely to blame for the upward trend in people suffering from high blood pressure.
"Many people have sedentary jobs, work long hours and leave little time to eat healthily or take exercise.
"However, it is important people are educated to the risks so they can do something about it."
High blood pressure can be caused by smoking, being overweight, lack of exercise, high cholesterol, diabetes and an unhealthy diet.
The Mirror reports that men's rates of 'above normal' readings was higher, at 77 per cent, than women's, at 66 per cent.
Consultant heart surgeon Leslie Hamilton told the newspaper: "These figures are a stark reminder that high blood pressure is a major health issue for the UK.
"One in three adults has high blood pressure and around a third are unaware they have it as there are often no symptoms.
"But it's not dubbed the 'silent killer' for nothing - as a heart surgeon I'm exposed every day to what can go wrong when you don't control your blood pressure.
"We know that the results of a one-off test are not conclusive - that's why I'm urging people to get checked regularly and take the time to understand what their numbers actually mean."
Blood pressure measures how strongly the blood presses against the walls of the arteries as it is pumped around the body. It is recorded as two figures, systolic, which is the pressure when the heart contracts, and diastolic, which is the pressure between heartbeats.
If the pressure is too great it puts a strain on the heart and the arteries, but losing weight, taking regular exercise, cutting down on alcohol, reducing salt and caffeine and eating healthily can all help to control it.
When did you last have your blood pressure checked? Let us know below...
Click on the image below for some healthy lunch ideas...
- Tomato soup
<p>
Store-bought soups are often packed with hidden salt, so buy your own fresh veggies and make a tasty tomato soup (an especially welcome treat in the cold winter months). Top it off with some yoghurt for added flavour.</p>
![Tomato soup]()
- Couscous salad
<p>
Trying to be healthy by eating spinach leaves every day is pretty uninspiring, so skip the leafy salad one day and try a couscous and Mediterranean vegetable version instead. It only takes five minutes to cook, and you can keep it exciting by swapping the veg for beans and nuts to amp up the protein.</p>
![Couscous salad]()
- Falafel and pitta sandwich
<p>
If you're craving the taste of something fried, a baked falafel and hummous sandwich is a high-protein option that's veggie-friendly, tastes delicious and has more nutritional value than any fried fast food alternative. Add some tomatoes and lettuce to garnish and finish off with a low-fat Greek yoghurt.</p>
![Falafel and pitta sandwich]()
- Bean salad
<p>
For a low-cal, high-protein lunch with lots of flavour, try a bean salad. You can toss a few different bean varieties together (like cannellini, garbanzo and kidney, for example), mix tuna and white beans for a winning combo or team beans with brown rice and goat or feta cheese.</p>
![Bean salad]()
- Chicken mango wrap
<p>
There's a misconception that healthier options aren't as flavoursome as their highly caloric counterparts. This chicken and mango wrap packs a lot of flavour into an easy meal - just add some peppers and avocado to tantalise your tastebuds. Or try another protein/veg combo wrap with pesto or salsa instead of your usual mayo-filled sandwich. </p>
![Chicken mango wrap]()
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