Doctor warns that age-related aches may hide dangerous high blood pressure
GP Babak Ashrafi cautions that common age-related symptoms can mask hypertension, urging regular blood-pressure checks and broader health monitoring.
In a recent health advisory, GP Babak Ashrafi of Superdrug Online Doctor highlighted that symptoms commonly dismissed as normal aging—like nighttime waking, lowered sex drive, weight fluctuations, and slower recovery after exercise—may actually signal hidden health risks. He pointed out that high blood pressure, dubbed a "silent killer," impacts one in three people in the UK, yet about five million remain undiagnosed. Ashrafi advises regular blood-pressure monitoring, cholesterol testing, and attention to lifestyle factors such as diet, activity, sleep quality, and smoking.
He also notes that erectile difficulties and persistent sleep problems can be early warnings of cardiovascular issues. The doctor urges individuals to seek medical advice rather than assuming these changes are inevitable with age.
