Doctor recommends doing one thing after age 35 to reduce your risk of heart disease

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Self-checking your blood pressure from age 35 can prevent heart complications.

Heart and circulatory diseases account for around a quarter of deaths in the UK each year. Of these, coronary heart disease is the most common type. This occurs when arteries become narrowed by a build-up of fatty substances along their walls and, if left untreated, can be life-threatening.

Heart disease in its ordinary sense refers to what doctors call coronary artery disease (CAD) or, more commonly, ischaemic heart disease (IHD).

These terms specifically refer to damage or potential damage to the heart and its symptoms resulting from a blockage or restriction of blood flow and therefore oxygen supply to it from one or more of its arteries (coronary arteries) and branches, and distinguish it from other forms of heart disease. CHD is preventable and, if not preventable, is a curable disease provided it is detected and treated early. The most common risk factor for heart disease is high blood pressure.

A number of factors, independently or together, increase or decrease the risk of developing CHD or worsen it if it is already present. Some are inherited, most are acquired, and all are modifiable or treatable.

It is often caused by lifestyle factors such as poor diet, being overweight, smoking and lack of physical activity, but you may also be at risk if it runs in your family. Early detection and control of blood pressure to protect yourself from heart disease. As part of this, the doctor advised checking your blood pressure from the age of 35.

“I would recommend that you start checking your blood pressure twice a year from the age of 35 using your own device.”