Man urges checks after hidden condition

A father has urged people to get their blood pressure checked after discovering his own "hidden" condition.

Edward Banjo, 42, from Medway, said he was unaware he had slightly high blood pressure until he took up a free NHS health check offered locally.

He is now encouraging others to attend similar appointments during Measure Your Pressure month, when Medway Council is offering free drop-in tests across the Towns.

Banjo said: "We need to dispel this narrative that only people who suspect something is going on in their body need a test. Everyone should go for a test, even if you think you're fine."

The free sessions are designed to identify people who may be at risk of cardiovascular disease.

Banjo said he regularly exercises and had no symptoms before being tested.

His results showed his systolic blood pressure, which measures pressure in the arteries when the heart beats, was higher than expected.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The systolic was a bit higher than was expected, and I was recommended to go for a test at my surgery."

High blood pressure does not usually cause any symptoms, and nationally, it is estimated that roughly one in three adults has high blood pressure.

Public health teams say early detection can reduce the likelihood of serious conditions such as heart attacks and strokes.

The council is encouraging residents not to wait for symptoms before seeking advice.

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