Article: High blood pressure: is your doctor on the case? Hypertension may cause no symptoms, but if it goes undiagnosed, you could be in for trouble. Barbara Rowlands reports

Deborah Hart discovered she had high blood pressure, four years ago during a routine check-up. A GP took one reading and said it should be regularly monitored - but he did not tell her how serious high blood pressure can be or offer any advice ab out howto reduce it.

"I'm slightly overweight, I smoke and have the odd drink but he never mentioned the effects of diet, smoking or alcohol," says Ms Hart, a 38-year-old publicity officer.

"He never explained what the consequences of high blood pressure could be. I went back two years ago and he just told me I should continue to be monitored. A year ago he put me on diuretics, [drugs that promote fluid loss by increasing urine production] but ...

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