A new report from Hilo warns that the UK is facing a major blood pressure awareness gap, with many adults still unsure what hypertension means, how it is detected, or why it matters for long-term health.
The 2025 Hilo Blood Pressure Report combines findings from a nationally representative UK survey of 2,000 adults with anonymised data from 8,950 long-term UK users of the Hilo Band, a continuous wrist-worn blood pressure monitor.
One of the report’s most striking findings is that only 47% of the UK public said they had heard of hypertension and understood what it means. This is despite high blood pressure being associated with serious conditions including stroke, heart attack, kidney disease, vascular dementia, and heart disease.
The report also points to a significant diagnosis gap. While around one third of UK adults are estimated to have hypertension, only about a quarter of surveyed adults reported having received a diagnosis. Hilo suggests this may mean many people are living with high blood pressure without knowing it.
Another key concern is the misconception that hypertension has obvious symptoms. According to the report, nearly a quarter of respondents believed high blood pressure would be noticeable, rising to 39% among adults aged 16 to 24. In reality, hypertension is often symptomless and can usually only be detected through measurement.
The findings also highlight clear inequalities. People from lower-income households or with lower levels of completed education were less likely to understand hypertension, less likely to recognise its wider health risks, and less likely to monitor their blood pressure regularly.
Monitoring behaviour was another major theme. More than 70% of respondents had not checked their blood pressure in the previous month, and almost one in five had either not checked it for more than two years or could not remember when they last did. Although around half of households owned a blood pressure monitor, ownership did not always translate into regular use.
Hilo’s internal user data suggests that continuous monitoring may help people engage more actively with their cardiovascular health. Among users aged 50 and over, systolic blood pressure appeared to stabilise over time, challenging the idea that rising blood pressure is simply an unavoidable part of ageing.
The report argues that better awareness and easier access to regular monitoring could play an important role in prevention. A diagnosis often prompts people to make lifestyle changes, but waiting for a diagnosis may mean action comes too late.
For individuals, the message is simple: knowing your blood pressure numbers matters. For healthcare professionals and policymakers, the report underlines the need for clearer education, earlier detection, and more accessible monitoring tools.
The full report is available from Hilo: UK Blood Pressure Crisis: Key Findings from Hilo’s 2025 Report
Medical note: Blood pressure monitoring devices are not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. Anyone concerned about their blood pressure should speak with a qualified healthcare professional.