Why Knowing Your Blood Pressure Could Save Your Life
For many people, the first sign of high blood pressure does not come until after a life-changing event such as a stroke or heart attack. Because it often develops without noticeable symptoms, it can go undetected for years while quietly damaging the body.
Know Your Numbers! Week (7–13 September 2026) aims to encourage more people to have their blood pressure checked, helping to identify problems early and reduce the risk of serious complications.
The Condition You Cannot Always Feel
High blood pressure is often known as the “silent killer” because it rarely causes obvious symptoms. Someone may feel perfectly well while persistently raised blood pressure gradually places additional strain on their heart, arteries and other organs.
The estimates that around 16 million people in the UK have high blood pressure, with nearly five million unaware that they are living with the condition.
Left untreated, high blood pressure can increase the risk of:
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Kidney disease
- Vascular dementia
- Vision problems
This is why regular monitoring matters. A simple check may identify high blood pressure before it causes serious or irreversible harm.
Know Your Numbers
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood around your body. It is measured using two numbers:
- Systolic pressure – the pressure when your heart beats.
- Diastolic pressure – the pressure when your heart rests between beats.
For most adults, a healthy reading is generally below 140/90 mmHg, although individual targets may vary depending on factors such as age, medical history and existing health conditions.
A single raised reading does not necessarily mean that someone has high blood pressure. Healthcare professionals may arrange further checks or ask a patient to monitor their blood pressure over a period of time to establish whether it is consistently elevated.
Where Can You Have Your Blood Pressure Checked?
A simple, quick blood pressure check could make all the difference. You can have your blood pressure measured:
- At your GP surgery
- At many local pharmacies
- During an NHS Health Check
- At home using a validated monitor
Tracking your readings can help identify patterns and ensure that any concerns are investigated. It can also help healthcare professionals determine whether lifestyle changes, further monitoring or medical treatment may be needed.
Small Changes, Big Benefits
Healthy lifestyle choices can help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of complications. Steps that may help lower blood pressure include:
- Eat a balanced diet and reduce salt intake.
- Stay active and aim for 150 minutes of exercise each week.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Limit alcohol and stop smoking.
- Manage stress and prioritise your wellbeing.
Blood pressure can change over time, so ongoing monitoring may remain important even after treatment has begun.
When High Blood Pressure Is Missed or Poorly Managed High blood pressure is often manageable when diagnosed early. However, delayed diagnosis or a lack of appropriate monitoring can sometimes lead to serious harm, including strokes, heart attacks, and kidney damage, which could have been prevented.
Healthcare professionals are expected to respond appropriately to persistently raised blood pressure. Depending on the patient’s circumstances, this may include arranging repeat readings, carrying out further investigations, prescribing medication or referring the patient for specialist assessment.
Concerns may arise where, for example:
- Repeatedly high readings are not properly recorded or investigated.
- A patient is not advised to attend follow-up appointments or further tests.
- Appropriate medication is not prescribed or reviewed.
- Treatment is not adjusted despite blood pressure remaining uncontrolled.
- Symptoms or risk factors for stroke, heart disease or kidney damage are overlooked.
- A patient’s condition is not appropriately monitored during pregnancy or alongside another medical condition.
Not every stroke, heart attack or other complication associated with high blood pressure will have been caused by medical negligence. However, where the care provided falls below the expected standard and a patient suffers avoidable harm as a result, there may be grounds to investigate what happened.
The Human Impact of Delayed Diagnosis
The consequences of poorly managed high blood pressure can extend far beyond the initial medical emergency. A stroke or heart attack may affect a person’s mobility, speech, independence and ability to work. Some people require ongoing rehabilitation, adaptations to their home or long-term support from family members.
For patients and their loved ones, discovering that an earlier opportunity to identify or manage the condition may have been missed can be particularly difficult. They may be left with questions about whether the outcome could have been avoided and whether the care provided was appropriate.
Specialist legal advice can help patients and families understand the treatment received, identify whether further investigation is needed and consider the options available to them.
Make Time for a Blood Pressure Check
Know Your Numbers! Week is a timely reminder that you do not need to feel unwell to benefit from a health check. Knowing your numbers, attending routine appointments and seeking advice about persistently raised readings can help identify high blood pressure before serious complications occur.
It is also worth encouraging relatives and friends to have their blood pressure checked, particularly if they are older, have a family history of cardiovascular disease or have other health conditions that may place them at greater risk.
Concerned About the Care You or a Loved One Received?
If you or a loved one has suffered a stroke, heart attack, kidney damage or another serious complication after high blood pressure was missed or not appropriately managed, our specialist Medical Negligence team may be able to help.
At Bridge McFarland LLP, we understand that taking legal advice can feel daunting, particularly when you are coping with the physical and emotional consequences of a serious illness. Our experienced solicitors can listen to your concerns, help you understand whether the care provided met the expected standard and explain your options clearly and compassionately.
Contact Bridge McFarland LLP for a confidential discussion with a member of our Medical Negligence team. Call us on 0800 987 8800 or make a free online enquiry and we will contact you. Alternatively, email us at enquiries@bmcf.co.uk
