Are YOU one of the ‘missing millions' at risk of heart attacks due to undiagnosed silent killer – the 4 signs to know
RED ALERT Are YOU one of the 'missing millions' at risk of heart attacks due to undiagnosed silent killer – the 4 signs to know
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
MILLIONS of Brits have undiagnosed high blood pressure and are at risk of heart attacks and strokes, the British Heart Foundation warns.
The charity said more than 125,000 deadly emergencies could be prevented in the next decade if doctors tracked down people unaware they are at risk.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
1
High blood pressure becomes more common with age (stock image)
Credit: Getty
It estimates five million people are not getting the right treatment.
High blood pressure can be caused by old age, excess weight, a bad diet or drinking and smoking, and raises the risk of heart damage and dementia.
The BHF estimates 16million people – about a third of adults – have it, but around half are not getting treatment and five million don't even know they have it.
Untreated, it is a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes and accounts for about half of them.
Chief medical officer Professor Bryan Williams said: 'This is a powder keg for the nation's future health.
'Making sure these people are identified and treated is critical.
'Huge gains can be made by reimagining how we detect and treat common risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure.
'But at the moment, millions of people are still living undiagnosed with these conditions, which raise the risk of serious illness such as heart attack and stroke.'
Heart diseases are the leading cause of death in the UK, on a par with cancer.
High blood pressure usually does not cause any symptoms but it is easily detected with routine health checks.
What is high blood pressure and what is a normal reading?
Some people do show signs of illness and they can include:
Headaches
Blurred vision
Nosebleeds
Chest pains
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
6 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
From shots to sprays and capsules – we test three magnesium supplements that improve sleep
Our round-up includes one option that really helps if you wake up in the night and can't get back to sleep TRIED & TESTED From shots to sprays and capsules – we test three magnesium supplements that improve sleep Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MAGNESIUM is a magic mineral if you struggle to sleep. It's also vital for healthy muscles, nerves, bones and blood sugar levels. Low levels can increase your risk of diabetes, heart attack and stroke. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 We put three magnesium supplements to the test The recommended daily amount is 270mg for women and 300mg for men. It is found in seeds, soy, nuts and bananas. I've tested three supplements that can help you top up. SHOTS 4 Handy 15ml sachets pack 135mg of magnesium - in a form called bisglycinate - combined with amino acid glycine to help promote better sleep Credit: Supplied I'M a fan of DISO. Its sleep strips really do the job, so I was keen to try out the brand's new Magnesium Liposomal Shot. Liposomal technology means more magnesium reaches your cells. READ MORE HEALTH NEWS TRIED & TESTED From peanut butter to strawberry & cream - We test three protein supplements These are handy 15ml sachets that contain 135mg of pure magnesium in a form called bisglycinate meaning it has been combined with amino acid glycine, which is also great for sleep. The sachets also contain vitamin B12 – great for nerves – and vitamin E, and taste of strawberries and cream! This really helped me sleep. £60 for 30 shots (on offer for £29.99) CAPSULES 4 The Golden Pill from Elle-Sera is a celeb-backed hormone-balancing favourite for banishing crankiness Credit: Supplied MANY women will have heard of The Golden Pill from Elle-Sera. This hormone-balancing supplement is another of my favourites and I, along with many celebs, swear by it to stop being cranky. Now the brand has brought out its Premium Liposomal Magnesium. Again, this is the type that absorbs faster. There is also vitamin C, which is great to help form collagen, plus vitamin B6 – crucial for hormone balance – so it works well with the original pill. It is the active form of B6, which is used for maximum impact. I'm a beauty guru and these are 5 tips to keep you looking younger and why your sleep habits could be causing more wrinkles I get these on subscription as they really help me sleep well. There are no nasty bulking agents either, just acacia fibre. Plant-based and naturally soluble, too. From £28 for a month. SPRAY 4 I like the Harrogate Organics Magnesium Spray if I get restless legs, muscle cramps or wake up in the night and can't get back to sleep Credit: Supplied IF you don't fancy taking a pill or a liquid, you can absorb magnesium via the skin, either through bath salts, balm or spray. I like the Harrogate Organics Magnesium Spray if I get restless legs, muscle cramps or wake up in the night and can't get back to sleep. It really helps. And you can feel it tingling as it is absorbed through the skin, which can be a sign you have a low magnesium level. It contains magnesium chloride to support muscle relaxation, which can help with sleep, propanediol to help absorption, plus castor and eucalyptus oils to moisturise. A great choice for a quick effect on the skin. £12.54 for 100ml, which last for ages.
Scottish Sun
6 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
From a dog that shares owners' bed to a vocal cat – your pet queries answered
Find out how to WIN a pet-hair bundle worth £100 PAWS AND CLAWS From a dog that shares owners' bed to a vocal cat – your pet queries answered Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HE is on a mission to help our pets . . . and is here to answer YOUR questions. Sean, who is the head vet at tailored pet food firm has helped with owners' queries for ten years. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Sean McCormack, head vet at promises he can 'help keep pets happy and healthy' 4 Sean attempts to help with a dog who has created a crowded bedroom Credit: Getty Q) MY dog Billy insists on sleeping between me and my boyfriend. My boyfriend doesn't mind but it makes for a crowd in the bedroom. What can I do about this? Amy Wood, Sheffield Sean says: I don't mean to be too blunt but you are actually the one in charge. I also know how hard it is to resist Billy's snuggles — but if you want him out of the bed, or your bedroom, that is reasonable. It can be achieved cold turkey by using a stair gate or closing the bedroom door and placing his bed in another room. But be prepared he will probably shout the house down. It's probably best to do it gradually, and place his bed on the floor of your bedroom — then outside the door, then gradually farther away. Don't cave in to his pleas. If you do give in just once, he will try doubly hard the next time. Q) WHEN I started treatment for breast cancer, my dog Pepper wouldn't come near me. He's now OK and thankfully I'm in remission, but what caused this? Nicky Brown, Sevenoaks, Kent Sean says: Congratulations on reaching remission, Nicky. These things can affect our furry family members, too. With dogs, the difference is having such an acute sense of smell. If you were on chemotherapy for example, that can cause a change in your personal scent that we can't detect, but may have put Pepper off. There is even fascinating research showing dogs can pick up the scent of tumours themselves, and this has been harnessed to train dogs to diagnose cancer before it would ever appear on a routine scan. Whatever Pepper's concern, I'm glad all is back to normal. Q) OUR cat Steedy is 16 years old and constantly miaows. He appears healthy and eats quite well, although he is a little thin now. The vet can find nothing wrong. Could he have dementia? Alan McNaught, Clacton, Essex Sean says: Yes, or feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome (FCDS), which is similar to Alzheimer's disease. Unexplained and incessant vocalisation is one common symptom in older cats. Others include confusion, appearing to get trapped in tight spaces, lack of grooming, sleeping more, becoming extra-affectionate or withdrawing from human interaction. It's distressing to witness our pets undergoing these changes, but rest assured they are rarely in pain or suffering due to this condition alone. If Steedy is still eating well, then just monitor him for now. If he becomes more agitated, discuss with your vet when it may be kindest to let him go with dignity. Often, this point comes when a pet loses control of toileting. Give Steedy a chin stroke from me. Q) SOX, my neighbour's cat, messes up my flower beds. If I see him I clap my hands and he runs off — but when the coast is clear, he's back. What can I do? Dave Dixon, Manchester A) Sean says: This is annoying to encounter when gardening, for example, and there can also be health and hygiene issues. There are cat-deterrent sprays and ultrasonic sound emitters that cats find annoying. Some may recommend spraying the cat with a water mister, but I'm not a fan of aversive techniques from humans as it can make cats wary or aggressive. The only real way to stop it happening is to prevent access to your garden. There are net attachments for wall tops and fences, to keep your cat in and others out. Try these. Star of the week 4 Washington the kitten has mended the heart of an older cat who lost his housemate Credit: Supplied WASHINGTON, the kitten, has mended the broken heart of his housemate Percy, the cat, whose best friend had passed away. The six-month-old long-haired ginger puss is now inseparable from ten-year-old Percy. Percy had lived with 15-year-old ginger tomcat Dibble for ten years but, sadly, Dibble died on Christmas Day. Owner Caroline Read, 59, of Braintree, Essex, said: 'Washington has mended Percy's broken heart. 'He was so sad at losing his best friend. Now he's purring again and the two of them run around the house doing zoomies together.' WIN: £100 Vamoosh pet-hair bundle VAMOOSH, the game-changing laundry brand for people with busy homes and furry companions, is offering three readers a bundle of products worth £100. The Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver gets rid of pet and human hair in the washing machine, making it a game-changer. It's also been recognised by animal- rights group Peta as cruelty-free. For a chance to win, send an email with VAMOOSH in the title to: sundaypets@ by August 24. Vamossh products are available from Amazon, Ocado and B&M. T&Cs apply. How a pet reveals your personality 4 The breed of dog you own could say something about your personality Credit: Getty THEY say people look like their dogs – but their personalities match, too, new research has revealed. Canine 'mini-me's' are about more than just looks, as 72 per cent of owners say they their dog's personality is similar to their own. The website pets4homes. revealed the findings in data from more than 7.5million animals taken between January 2019 and June 2025. Pet expert Axel Lagercrantz said: 'Dogs are no longer simply pets, they've become mirrors of the people who raise them. 'Many owners living with animals feel they're psychological extensions of themselves. It hints at something deeper than preference in breed or temperament.' A staggering 88 per cent of owners referred to their dog as their closest family member or friend. 'These are people whose sense of self now includes a four-legged companion. 'We also see alignment in the breeds people choose. Border collies, with their appetite for adventure, are owned by people who are 93 per cent more adventurous than the average dog owner. Lagercrantz added: 'Dachshunds, hugely popular on social media, attract Gen Z and Millennial owners, who post online 123 per cent more than average owners.'
Scottish Sun
6 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
The bruising on my arm was blamed on ageing but now it bleeds – should I see my GP?
Read on for Dr Zoe Williams' expert advice on Lyme Disease and handling tick bites ASK DR ZOE The bruising on my arm was blamed on ageing but now it bleeds – should I see my GP? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) OUR resident specialist and NHS GP, Dr Zoe Williams, shares her expert advice. Today, Dr Zoe helps a reader whose bruising on their arm was blamed on ageing - but now it bleeds. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Dr Zoe Williams helps Sun readers with their health concerns 2 Sun reader's bruising which has started to bleed Credit: Supplied Q: I am a 60-year-old male and for about a year now, I've noticed I am getting bruise-like blemishes on my right arm, but nowhere else. I pointed this out to a nurse who administered my B12 injection. I was diagnosed with B12 deficiency about 18 months ago, after having forgetfulness. I also suffer from COPD. The nurse brushed off the blemishes saying it's a sign of skin ageing. But during the past few months they sometimes bleed. Should I make an appointment to see my GP? A) Thank you for sharing the images, which show a reticular, or net-like, bruising pattern on the lower arm, with some areas of scab formation. The short answer to your question is 'yes' – you should see a doctor, and sharing these images via e-consult would be a great way of preparing for that appointment. There are a number of potential causes that your GP might want to consider investigating. They include vasculitis, a blood clot or autoimmune conditions – for example, lupus. Any abnormal bruising or bleeding should always be checked out. TIP Lyme disease, which can be caught from infected tick bites, peaks in summer. The UK Health Security Agency has warned the public to be vigilant. Protect yourself by sticking to main pathways in green spaces, covering your skin and checking all over your body for ticks after a walk. Only use a tick removal tool to get the bug out if it has bitten and latched on to you.
