High blood pressure is a common condition that many people don’t realise they have because symptoms are difficult to identify.

The best way to find out if you have the condition is to have your blood pressure reading checked.

One of the best ways to prevent and control the condition is to eat a healthy diet.

But what foods should you definitely avoid if you’re looking to lower your reading?

A low-fat diet is recommended for most people, advises Superdrug, which means you should try and avoid saturated fats.

It says: “A lower fat diet may also help you keep your cholesterol levels low, or reduce them if you need to.

“High cholesterol can increase your risk of a stroke, or heart disease, and so if you already know that you have high cholesterol it’s even more important to make sure that you keep your blood pressure healthy. It can also help you lose weight.

“Not all fats are bad - you can still eat foods that contain ‘good’ polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats (think oily fish, avocado and olive oil) although don’t overdo it as they can still lead to weight gain.”

Saturated fats the health retailer recommends you avoid are usually found in processed foods.

Six foods containing saturated fats you should cut out of your diet include pies and cakes, red meats, butter, palm oil and ghee.

Salt is another likely culprit in your diet for raising blood pressure.

Superdrug explains: “A diet that’s high in salt can upset the normal balance of sodium in your body. This leads to fluid retention and increases your blood pressure.”

If you’re yet to be diagnosed with high blood pressure there are nine symptoms to look out for, according to Bupa.

These are:

• Headaches
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Chest pain
• Heart palpitations
• Nose bleeds
• Stomach pain
• Fever
• Blurred vision

If you experience any of these symptoms you should pay a visit to your doctor.

 
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