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However, the lack of symptoms doesn’t mean these conditions aren’t a threat to your health. When they exist together, the risks for your heart, brain and other organs are amplified.
High blood pressure and high cholesterol are known as “silent killers” because they typically don’t cause any noticeable symptoms. However, over time, they quietly damage your blood vessels and organs. This increases your risk of a heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, loss of eyesight, and even dementia.
In the UK, around 30% of adults – approximately 16 million people – have high blood pressure, and up to half of them are not receiving effective treatment. Around half of UK adults have high cholesterol levels.
These numbers are alarming enough on their own, but further danger lies in how often these conditions occur together.
Having high blood pressure and high cholesterol speeds up the narrowing and hardening of the arteries; a condition called atherosclerosis. This puts your heart under strain and increases the likelihood of a blood vessel blockage or clot, which could cause a heart attack or stroke, or lead to kidney damage or eye disease.
Crucially, all of this can be happening even when you feel perfectly well.
Despite high blood pressure and high cholesterol being linked to serious health problems, there are several factors that mean they may be poorly controlled.
Unlike chest pain or breathlessness, high blood pressure and cholesterol rarely give a physical warning. Without symptoms, it’s easy to put off having a check-up with your doctor, or to dismiss the need for medication.
Some people experience side effects from blood pressure tablets or statins to treat high cholesterol. This may lead them to skip doses, or to stop taking the medication altogether.
In some cases, several medicines may be recommended, and this can lead to individuals feeling overwhelmed at managing multiple prescriptions.
The internet is full of contradictory advice. Will eating eggs raise your cholesterol? Does intermittent fasting help? For many, the volume of information available leads to confusion rather than action.
Anxiety at medical appointments can raise your blood pressure temporarily, making it hard to know what a truly accurate reading would be. Inaccurate readings can lead to under- or over- treatment.
Eating healthily, managing stress, and staying active all support better heart health. However, these goals can feel out of reach when you’re working long hours, facing food insecurity, or unable to afford to use your local gym or leisure centre.
The good news is there are practical steps you can take to give high blood pressure and high cholesterol the attention they deserve. Even better, most of these tips can be followed from the comfort of your own home.
Investing in a home blood pressure (BP) monitor allows you to track readings regularly in a relaxed setting. It’s a reliable way to spot patterns, reduce white coat effect, and help your healthcare provider make informed decisions.
If your GP practice has partnered with Suvera, you can make the most of our remote monitoring services. This means you can stay on track with your blood pressure without visiting your GP in person.
Statins are often misunderstood. Simply put, they help to reduce the amount of cholesterol in your blood, which lowers you risk of blocked arteries. They don’t work overnight, but over time they dramatically reduce your chance of a heart attack or stroke.
Blood pressure medicines work in a variety of ways. Some reduce the volume of fluid in your blood, while others relax your blood vessels. If one type causes side effects, speak to your doctor as there are often alternatives.
If you’ve never had your blood pressure or cholesterol checked – or it’s been more than a year since your last check – now’s the time. Don’t wait to feel unwell as there are often no symptoms with these conditions.
Even if you have a family history of good health, you eat well and exercise regularly, these silent conditions can still creep up on you. They’re often influenced by age, sex, genes and stress levels.
You can begin looking after your cardiovascular health today with the following steps.
At Suvera, we’ve partnered with GP practices across the country to offer online blood pressure and cholesterol review appointments. Regular reviews at your GP practice or with Suvera are important for checking that you are on the correct treatment plan, and making adjustments when needed.
Remember, don’t wait to feel ill to take your health seriously.
Speak to your doctor or pharmacist today, as getting high blood pressure and cholesterol under control could prevent serious health complications from occurring.