According to a 2016 study, 64% of people over the age of 50 have high blood pressure.
There are often no symptoms, but if left untreated it can lead to serious health complications such as vascular dementia, heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease and eye disease.
Secondary hypertension is high blood pressure that is caused by another medical condition, whereas primary hypertension is not. Risk factors for primary hypertension include advancing age, smoking, obesity, poor sleep, excessive alcohol consumption and physical inactivity.
Dr Doireann O'Leary, health blogger and Cork GP, joined us for our weekly health slot to discuss ways of treating and preventing high blood pressure.
