Nick’s story: it’s never too late to look after your heart health

Regularly checking your blood pressure is important to help identify serious health risks early. It’s a quick and painless check that can be life-saving.

High blood pressure has no symptoms and can cause serious health conditions like heart attacks, strokes or kidney damage.

Take five minutes out of your day to get checked.

Nick, 45, from Thurrock, talks about why it’s important to look after your heart and check your blood pressure.

“For me, it’s been a bit of a journey. About five years ago, my optician asked if I had high blood pressure during an eye check as they said the blood vessels in my eye looked like I might. But I didn’t do anything about it for a few years.

“I then started getting headaches, feeling dizzy and had pressure behind my eyes. Someone I knew had these signs and was told they had high blood pressure. So I made a GP appointment.

“My GP put me on a monitor to check my blood pressure over 24 hours. This showed it was very high. This confirmed what I thought I already knew, but I was disappointed that I hadn’t got it checked sooner. I was given blood pressure medicine.”

Nick recently had his annual review. He sent his GP a week’s worth of blood pressure readings. If you have high blood pressure, it’s important to go to your annual check. Your GP can make sure you’re managing your condition and check that your medicine is working effectively.

Nick adds: “Unfortunately my blood pressure was still high, so I was given a higher dose. I had to send another week of readings, which showed my blood pressure is still too high. I’m now on two types of medicine and need to send another week of blood pressure readings.

“If you haven’t had your blood pressure checked recently, go and have one. It’s a simple test that takes minutes. If you already have high blood pressure, keep checking it and go to your annual review.”

Nick’s story shows it’s never too late to get your blood pressure checked or to speak to your GP if you have concerns. Ongoing care to manage high blood pressure is an important part of looking after your heart.

For more information about blood pressure and your health, speak to your pharmacist or GP.

Find out more about high blood pressure at the NHS Mid and South Essex Invincible Feeling Invisible Danger page.