Health expert issues warning about ‘silent killer’ affecting more than 14 million Brits

A health expert has issued an urgent warning about a 'silent killer' which affects millions of Brits.

Now, in the UK alone, around 100,000 hospital admissions each year are due to heart attacks, according to the British Heart Foundation, which is a shocking 290 admissions each day or one every five minutes.

While the major symptoms of a heart attack are surprisingly different for people who are biologically female compared to those who are biologically male - there is one major cause of the serious medical emergency that millions of people have without even knowing.

A 'silent killer' affects over 14 million Brits (Kinga Krzeminska / Getty Images)

A 'silent killer'

Senior cardiac nurse Julie Ward has shared her expertise on how high blood pressure - dubbed a 'silent killer' - is a major cause of heart attacks.

It's got this moniker as there are rarely any signs or symptoms, meaning that millions of people with high blood pressure don’t even know they have it.

The first time you ever find out about it may end up being when you have a stroke or a heart attack

"High blood pressure can damage the walls of the arteries, causing coronary artery disease and stroke. It can also damage the heart muscle, leading to heart failure," Julie warns.

Millions of us have high blood pressure

The British Heart Foundation explains that more than 14 million adults in the UK have high blood pressure.

"As many as five million of these are thought to be undiagnosed, as there are rarely any symptoms," Julie adds.

You should be aiming for a blood pressure less than 140/90 mmHg which is usually referred as '140 over 90' (Kinga Krzeminska / Getty Images)

How to measure blood pressure

Now, blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).

The British Heart Foundation states: "The first (or top) number of your reading is the pressure when your blood pressure is at its highest (when your heart squeezes, called systolic pressure).

"The second (or bottom) number is the pressure when your blood pressure is at its lowest (when your heart relaxes, called diastolic pressure)."

So, unless your doctor tells you otherwise, you should be aiming for a blood pressure of less than 140/90 mmHg which is usually referred to as '140 over 90'.

How to lower blood pressure

Luckily, there are a bunch of lifestyle changes you can do to reduce your risk of high blood pressure.

Julie advises we all get at least 150 minutes a week of physical activity in order to stay fit and strong.

Maintaining a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein is always a good shout too.

Reducing your alcohol intake and quitting smoking as well as managing stress correctly while getting enough sleep will also all help to reduce your blood pressure.

Find out more about high blood pressure on the official NHS website here.