'I'm a cardiac nurse – follow these steps if your blood pressure is too high'

It's important to check your high blood pressure as the symptoms can often be overlooked.

The long-term condition, also known as hypertension, occurs when the pressure in your blood vessels become too high. Leaving it untreated could lead to a series of medical issues, from heart disease and stroke to kidney failure.

Your blood pressure is identified through a machine which measures it with two numbers, the top as systolic while the bottom number is diastolic. According to the NHS, a normal blood pressure is usually less than 120/80 mm Hg.

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Now many people might not realise how to properly check themselves, that's why one cardiac nurse is on hand to teach you how to identify whether you have high blood pressure in a post on TikTok.

In the video, Angela said: "I'm a cardiac nurse and you've seen some of my videos before about blood pressure, you know I love all things about the heart. So I'm going to take my blood pressure and show you all the tricks I tell my patients to make sure it's accurate."

She begins by asking viewers to sit down quietly for about five minutes which allows the blood pressure to settle down, especially if you've been running around. This can often be an overlooked step in checking your blood pressure.

Angela added: "Next you're going to slide your arm in and make sure that tube is pointing down towards your fingers. Pull it nice and tight, sometimes you need a little bit of help with this, make sure it fits and this bit isn't too floppy or really struggling to be attached.

"Next that little dot should be in line with the middle of your elbow, then we're going to press start and there you have it. Mine is pretty normal for me there today. If it's a bit high, take it three times." She claimed to take down the best reading in this instance.

Since it was shared, her video garnered 21,400 likes and nearly 1,000 comments. One asked: "Does it matter which arm?" To which Angela replied: "Yes usually." Another added: "How come my blood pressure is different in each arm?"

The cardiac nurse claimed this is because the right is further away from the heart so it's sometimes higher. While you can measure yourself at home with a machine, the NHS strongly advises visiting a GP if you think you're at risk of the condition.

It also claimed it's best to do with your doctor if you're aged 40 or over and have not had your blood pressure checked for more than five years.