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SHARP - Scottish Heart & Arterial Risk Prevention
site updated: March 2006
Risk Factors - High Blood Pressure

Do you know if your blood pressure is raised?

Everyone needs blood pressure to keep the blood circulating through the body. When the blood pressure is raised doctors call it Hypertension.

Your primary care team can measure your blood pressure for you.

"If your parents or close realtives have hypertension it is particulary important."

If hypertension is not treated it can lead to:

  • Cerebral Vascular Disease (stroke)
  • Coronary Heart Disease (heart attacks)
  • Heart Failure
  • Kidney Failure
  • Hardening of the arteries leading to inadequate blood flow in the legs
  • Retinopathy (damage to the arteries in the eyes)

Tablets for blood pressure must be taken regularly.

If your tablets seem to upset you tell your G.P. but do not stop taking them.

Adding a lot of salt to your food may make high blood pressure worse.

Risk Factors
Smoking
Alcohol
An unhealthy diet
Not enough exercise
Being overweight
High blood pressure
Stress
Cholesterol
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