Experts have warned women worldwide of the dangers posed by high blood pressure, as doctors urge them to take it seriously.
High blood pressure “rarely has noticeable symptoms” the NHS warns, but if untreated can increase the risk of serious, and potentially deadly, problems such as heart attacks and strokes.
Around 1 in 4 adults in the UK suffer from the silent killer but may even not realise it.
When blood pressure is too high, it puts an extra strain on a person’s blood vessels, heart, brain, and other organs including eyes and kidney.
Persistently high blood pressure can lead to possibly deadly conditions.
Cardiologists from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) have highlighted that the risk of heart disease increases at lower blood pressure levels for women, compared to men.
Professor Angela Maas, emeritus director of the Women's Cardiac Health Programme, Radboud University Medical Centre, the Netherlands, said: "My message to all women is to take your blood pressure seriously, know your values [blood pressure readings] and convince your doctor that if it is too high then you need treatment. Don't underestimate the long-term effects of high blood pressure."
Maas added: "One of the most important consequences of hypertension in women is a type of heart failure in which the heart muscle is stiff."
This can lead to a number of complications and prevention is vital as there are “few treatments” available, she said.
Here are nine symptoms that women need to know
- Fatigue
- Fluid retention
- Shortness of breath later in life
- Palpitations
- Pain in the chest or between the shoulder blades
- Headaches
- Shortness of breath
- Tiredness
- Hot flushes
Some symptoms could be mistaken for menopause, stress or anxiety.
High blood pressure is also associated with dementia on World Hypertension Day today, doctors have urged women not to wait until the damage sets in later in life before they think about blood pressure.
The NHS said high blood pressure is anything from 140/90mmHg upwards.
However, people with co-existing health conditions may be at risk from lower blood pressure levels than this - and Maas said "discussions are underway about whether normal blood pressure values should be lower in women compared to men".
But even though more research is needed before any guidelines are changed, experts have advised women to get their blood pressure checked annually from age 40 onwards.
Some Brits may be more predisposed to developing high blood pressure than others.
But often lifestyle factors, diet and exercise, play a key part in preventing hypertension.
Sindy Jodar, a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said "lack of exercise, immense weight gain, salt consumption and excessive alcohol consumption" are among the most common risk factors for high blood pressure.
