Scotland football legend backs blood pressure check campaign

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Scotland legend Graeme Souness is backing a campaign urging people to avoid a “silent killer”. The Ibrox icon is behind a new UK-wide NHS drive to find the missing millions who have undiagnosed high blood pressure.Former player, manager and pundit Souness said: “It’s so important to get your blood pressure checked - in my experience, high blood pressure doesn’t only affect the ‘usual suspects’, it can and does affect anyone, so you could be at risk without knowing it. “I’ve had high blood pressure for years but have been able to manage it with a routine of healthy eating, regular fitness and regular blood pressure checks.” Described as the “silent killer”, if left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and vascular dementia.Around a third of Scots adults are thought to be living with high blood pressure without knowing it.

The NHS Get Your Blood Pressure Checked campaign has been launched, backed by health charities, to warn people the condition often has no symptoms.England’s chief medical officer, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, said: “High blood pressure usually has no symptoms but can lead to serious health consequences.

The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get a simple, non-invasive blood pressure test.“Even if you are diagnosed, the good news is that it’s usually easily treatable.

Getting your blood pressure checked at a local pharmacy is free, quick and you don’t even need an appointment, so please go for a check today - it could save your life.” Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and is given as two figures.