Blood pressure tablets are among the most commonly prescribed medicines in the UK — yet many patients are not taking them in the way their doctors recommend.

Prescribed to around nine million Britons each year, these drugs play a vital role in lowering the risk of life-threatening heart attacks and strokes.

But despite their proven benefits, research suggests that nearly half of people prescribed blood pressure medication do not take their daily tablets consistently. Even more concerning, about one in five do not take them at all. For some, the problem is simple but serious: remembering to take a pill every day can be difficult, especially for older adults.

For others, however, the issue is more troubling. Unpleasant side effects can make daily life uncomfortable — a problem that many Mail on Sunday readers will recognise.

Last week, after our resident GP columnist Dr Ellie Cannon addressed the side effects linked to blood pressure tablets, we received dozens of letters from readers describing their own experiences.

One 82-year-old man told how his tablets had left him with swollen ankles and diarrhoea. A 62-year-old woman described how the drugs had given her chronic coughing that felt like there was a ‘frog in her throat’ at all times. Another reader, a 74-year-old man, said how he had a constant need to go to the toilet since starting on the medication.

In some cases, readers admitted that they had stopped taking their tablets due to the severity of the side effects.

There are even some concerns that these drugs could raise the risk of other diseases. Last month, an Israeli study found that patients taking a class known as calcium-channel blockers were at a higher risk of developing kidney disease. Experts stress that, in the vast majority of cases, blood pressure pills are not only safe but life-saving. However, they admit that side effects can be challenging.

‘Many patients don’t like taking their blood pressure medicines because, in the short-term, they can trigger side effects and have no obvious benefit because high blood pressure is symptomless,’ says Professor Amitava Banerjee, a heart expert at University College London.

‘The problem is that, in the long-run, these drugs save lives.’

Tablets are not the only option for these patients – lifestyle changes could allow them to safely come off the medication for good.

‘Many patients assume they have to be on them for life, but that’s not always the case,’ says Professor Banerjee. ‘Yes, there are patients who will need to kee taking the pills indefinitely, but for some, lifestyle changes can get blood pressure down to a point where you no longer need to take the tablets.’

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries.

This pressure is created by the heart – each time it beats, it squeezes blood into the arteries so it can circulate around the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to organs and tissues. A certain level of pressure is needed to move blood and oxygen around the body, and this naturally rises and falls throughout the day.

When blood pressure is consistently too high it puts strain on the arteries. Over time they can become damaged and narrower, making it easier for fatty deposits to build up. This raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Blood pressure is measured with two numbers.

The first, called systolic pressure, shows the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts and pumps blood out. The second, the diastolic pressure, measures pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes between beats.

A normal reading is usually around 120 for systolic pressure and 80 for diastolic, written as 120/80. Readings that are consistently above 140/90 are classed as high blood pressure.

Worryingly, high blood pressure is on the rise in the UK. Around a third of adults are now believed to have the condition, also known as hypertension. And studies suggest that many of these patients are unaware they have the problem.

Experts say this is alarming because anyone with high blood pressure has a heightened risk of death. ‘Hypertension is one of the most common causes of death in the UK,’ says Professor Banerjee. ‘That’s why it is so important that it is treated.’

Blood pressure pills are designed to counteract this danger – usually by relaxing the walls of the blood vessels. Over the years there has been a growing number of hypertension tablets available, however, studies show that many of them have side effects.

Some of the most commonly used tablets are ACE (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme) inhibitors – such as ramipril or lisinopril – but research has shown these can trigger dizziness, lightheadedness and a dry, tickly cough.

Another common type of blood pressure tablets are calcium-channel blockers, such as amlodipine. These are the drugs that were recently linked to a heightened risk of kidney disease. However, more commonly they can trigger headaches, facial flushing, constipation and – most often – swelling of the ankles and legs.

Then there are diuretics, such as indapamide, which reduce blood pressure by making patients urinate more. However, this can be unbearable to many people, who struggle with the constant need to go to the toilet.

Experts say that, in many cases, anyone struggling with side effects can lower their dose or swap to another drug. However, they also say that many patients do not consider another alternative: lifestyle changes.

‘If you get side effects that are tough to live with, then lifestyle changes are an option,’ says Professor Raj Thakkar, president of the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society.

‘And these changes aren’t just for those who want to come off the drugs. Everyone with high blood pressure could benefit.’

One of the most important steps to lowering blood pressure without drugs is losing weight. This is because carrying extra pounds puts additional strain on the heart, forcing it to work harder to pump blood around the body – which translates directly into higher blood pressure.

One 2013 US study found that patients who lose a tenth of their body weight can stop taking at least one hypertension drug.

‘If you are overweight or have a raised BMI, you are more likely to have high blood pressure,’ says June Davison, cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation. ‘Losing weight, even a modest amount, can make a real difference.’

However, weight loss can take time. In the US study it took patients about a year to lose a tenth of their body weight.

But one lifestyle change that can lead to a significant reduction in blood pressure within weeks is slashing salt consumption.

‘We know that if you eat too much salt it holds on to water and this pushes blood pressure up,’ says Ms Davison. ‘But the problem isn’t really the salt you add yourself at the table. The majority of it is processed foods, processed meats and ready meals.’

Studies show that, for the average Briton, 80 per cent of their daily salt intake comes from processed foods, with just 7 per cent from salt added at the table.

Crucially, research also shows that for those eating too much salt, cutting intake can cause blood pressure to drop to healthy levels in less than a month.

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‘Go for a really low-salt diet overall, and then it’s fine to grind a little extra on your own food if you want to,’ says Ms Davison. ‘The key is to cut out foods like pizza or ready-made lasagnes – that’s where the salt really adds up.’

Boosting fruit and vegetable consumption is also crucial to coming off blood pressure medication. ‘Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables helps circulation,’ says Ms Davison. ‘Aim for five a day.’

Studies show that switching to a diet rich in fruit and vegetables can lead to a significant reduction in blood pressure in just two months.

Another important change is cutting back on alcohol.

Research shows that for moderate-to-low drinkers – those who consume two or fewer drinks a day – lowering alcohol consumption has a marginal impact on blood pressure.

But for those consuming more than two drinks a day, eliminating alcohol has a marked impact. For those who consume six or more, the effect is even more profound. Moreover, this change can occur within a matter of weeks.

‘Ideally, have no alcohol, or keep to a minimum,’ says Ms Davison. ‘If you do drink, stay within 14 units a week [roughly six medium glasses of wine or six pints], spread out over the week rather than saved up for one or two sessions – and try to have two or three days off in between.’

One lifestyle change neglected by many hypertension patients – particularly those over-65 – is regular exercise. And this could be the difference between getting off blood pressure tablets or not.

Studies show that, in particular, regular aerobic exercise – such as running, swimming or cycling – has the most sizeable effect on blood pressure.

And, interestingly, research suggests that the physical activity does not need to be intensive to have an impact.

‘You want regular, moderate-intensity aerobic activity – about 150 minutes a week,’ says Ms Davison.

‘For older people, or those who are less active or have mobility issues, we know that anything is better than nothing. This might mean breaking down the 150 minutes into ten-minute chunks – little and often. Anything that gets your heart rate up counts. That could even be dancing.’

However, research shows that exercise does not have an instant impact but that it typically takes one to three months of consistent activity before the benefits show up in blood pressure readings.

Finally, experts say that one factor in getting blood pressure down that many patients do not think about is improving their mental health.

Studies show that tackling stress, anxiety and poor sleep can get it down to healthy levels without the need for tablets.

One major study, published by the American Heart Association in 2020, found that a six-week mindfulness programme – where patients are taught coping mechanisms to handle stress and anxiety – led to a sustained reduction in blood pressure, even after the course had been completed.

‘If you’re continually stressed or anxious, that can raise your blood pressure,’ says Ms Davison. ‘Stress creates an adrenaline response in the body, and your heart rate goes up as a result.

‘However, poor mental health can also affect other lifestyle habits. It might mean people put off going for a walk or eating well, which pushes blood pressure up. So it ends up working against you in more than one way.’

Experts stress that, while effective, lifestyle changes won’t allow everyone to quit blood pressure tablets.

For older patients, they point out, making significant adaptations to habits such as exercise and diet are more difficult.

They also add that there are some who have stubbornly high blood pressure even after making significant lifestyle changes and taking medication.

But many experts argue that more patients could come off blood pressure pills if they made these changes.

‘It can take some time and commitment but lifestyle changes really can get blood pressure down,’ says Professor Thakkar. ‘Hypertension is so prevalent in Britain and patients can’t rely on treatment from the NHS alone to get their levels down. It’s up to the individual. And with the right advice it can be done.’

‘Changing my diet got my levels healthy’

While high blood pressure ran in her family, Bettina Wallace never expected to develop the dangerous condition.

The 73-year-old charity worker from Nottingham says that she always believed she had a healthy diet and lived an active lifestyle.

So Bettina was shocked when, in 2010, her GP said her blood pressure was dangerously high.

‘I was really surprised,’ she says. ‘I always thought I was healthy.’

Bettina was placed on blood pressure medication, but she also made lifestyle changes, such as taking up exercise classes and walking to work. However, Bettina – who is Caribbean – says the biggest shift was cutting down on her salt intake. ‘A lot of Caribbean food is very salty,’ she says. ‘It took some time to get used to not adding too much, but I knew it was important.’

Today her blood pressure is now within a healthy range.

She says she is keen to stop taking her blood pressure medication as it gives her swollen ankles as a side effect.

‘I would like to come off them eventually,’ she says. ‘I know people who have maintained their healthy blood pressure through good diet alone. It’s something I’d like to try.’

What to do when your blood pressure just won’t go down 

There are some patients whose blood pressure remains stubbornly high even after lifestyle changes and medication.

This is often referred to as ‘resistant hypertension’. And, according to experts, these patients typically have a separate underlying health condition.

‘The first thing we check with these patients is whether they are taking their drugs as instructed,’ says Professor Raj Thakkar. ‘We do this by testing their urine to see if their drugs are present.

‘But if they are taking their medication, then we look for secondary causes – essentially another medical problem that is keeping the blood pressure up.

‘This might be a heart defect, a hormone condition or kidney disease. Once you identify the secondary cause, you can treat it. This should get blood pressure down.’

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Vaginal health is often overlooked until discomfort, irritation or an unexpected change makes it impossible to ignore.

Most of us would never skip brushing our teeth and simply hope for the best, yet intimate wellbeing is still rarely given the same consistent, everyday care.

Now, a new Australian brand is aiming to shift that mindset, encouraging women to approach vaginal health as part of a regular routine rather than something addressed only when issues arise.

Kuci Biome has landed on Chemist Warehouse shelves across Australia, with its range of life-stage and symptom-specific supplements already attracting attention — particularly one standout product that has been creating buzz among women.

Vaginal Biome Probiotic is a daily capsule designed to support vaginal health from the inside out. While most of us know that our gut needs good bacteria to stay balanced and healthy, fewer realise the same applies elsewhere in our bodies, including the vagina.

The Vaginal Biome Probiotic is formulated using a targeted blend of probiotic strains to support healthy vaginal flora and general wellbeing.

Each capsule delivers 8.8 billion CFU from selected Lactobacillus strains. Lactobacillus is the ‘good’ bacteria naturally found in a healthy vaginal microbiome, and the probiotic capsule is designed to help maintain an optimum population of beneficial bacteria to support your body’s balance.

The formula heroes two specific strains: GR-1 and RC-14. These are clinically-studied Lactobacillus strains included to support vaginal microflora balance and vaginal health specifically.

Maintaining a healthy and balanced microflora can contribute to everyday comfort and confidence. Gut health reaps the benefits too, as the formulation is designed to support beneficial intestinal flora and general health and wellbeing as well.

Just like taking a gut probiotic or daily multivitamin, the Vaginal Biome Probiotic is a proactive daily routine offering everyday, ongoing support of vaginal flora, vaginal health and general wellbeing.

‘Vaginal health has spent far too long in the ‘we don’t talk about that’ basket,’ says Kuci Co Founder Niamh Loughman. ‘Vaginal Biome Probiotic was created to change the conversation, supporting women with a proactive approach to intimate wellbeing rather than waiting until something feels out of balance.

‘Combining carefully selected Lactobacillus strains, it helps maintain healthy vaginal flora and supports everyday vaginal health.’

Priced at $42.22 at Chemist Warehouse for 60 capsules, the Kuci Biome range of supplements is well priced in the market of targeted women’s health products, and are already attracting five-star reviews on the pharmacy giant’s website.

Kuci Biome has created a life-stage and needs-based probiotic system that supports women through the changes that occur through life’s transitions. 

Other daily probiotics in the range are specifically formulated to support women over 50 and women experiencing perimenopause, while targeted support addresses symptoms including acne, bloating and metabolism.

So many hormonal and life-stage complaints such as changes in mood, skin and digestion are dismissed as ‘normal’ for women. 

Kuci Biome’s modus operandi is that ‘common’ does not need to mean ‘unsupported’. ‘It does not mean women should be left to guess, search, compare, tolerate and carry on,’ says the brand.

‘Kuci exists for the space between ‘nothing is wrong’ and ‘I still want to feel better.’

The Perimenopause Daily Support Probiotic is designed to support mood balance, calm nerves and a healthy stress response, while also supporting digestive health and general wellbeing.

Each capsule delivers 11.5 billion CFU from selected probiotic strains, while saffron is included as a supportive botanical to help with mood balance and calm during perimenopause.

For postmenopausal women, there’s the 50+ Women’s Daily Probiotic, a high-strength supplement built specifically for women navigating changing health priorities.

Each capsule is formulated with a 30 billion CFU probiotic blend to support digestive system health and beneficial flora, while Vitamin C and Vitamin D are included to support immunity, skin and bone health, and everyday wellbeing.

Kuci Debloat is a daily probiotic and herbal blend formulated to support digestive system health, restore beneficial gut flora, and traditionally used to ease bloating, flatulence and digestive discomfort.

The formula uses three probiotic strains, including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, delivering 17 billion CFU to support intestinal flora, digestive system health and general health and wellbeing. It’s also formulated to support immune system health.

Fennel is traditionally used in Western herbal medicine to decrease or relieve flatulence, and to decrease or relieve abdominal bloating and distention. It’s also traditionally used in Western herbal medicine to relieve digestive discomfort.

Acne Care Probiotic is formulated to support digestive system health and beneficial intestinal flora, working on the gut-skin connection to help reduce the occurrence of acne symptoms, blackheads and pimples. 

The four billion CFU blend is designed to relieve symptoms of acne while supporting general health and wellbeing and immune system health, while Zinc and Vitamin E contribute to supporting skin health, skin repair and wound healing, along with collagen formation, collagen health and connective tissue health. Vitamin E also acts as an antioxidant, helping reduce free radicals formed in the body.

The formulation also includes Lactoferrin, which offers support for skin integrity, structure and elasticity alongside the probiotic and vitamin blend.

The full range of daily probiotic supplements is available to shop on the Kuci Biome website or at Chemist Warehouse stores nationwide.

Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) sharply criticized the defense strategy for Lindsay Clancy during a Friday appearance on Fox News Channel’s “The Will Cain Show,” rejecting any attempt to portray the accused killer as “brave” or deserving of public sympathy.

The Texas Republican argued that Clancy’s defense amounts to what he called “medicalizing evil,” and said she should face severe punishment if convicted in connection with the alleged killings.

Host Will Cain raised the issue directly, asking Gill for his reaction to both the Lindsay Clancy case and her attorney’s description of her as brave.

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“She is anything but brave,” Gill responded. “That viewer was exactly right. I mean, whenever I look at this, I have an enormous amount of sympathy for those three little innocent kids who were slaughtered. I don’t have an ounce of sympathy for Lindsay Clancy. This is one of those things where I think we ought to be able to draw pretty clear distinction between right and wrong. You don’t get license to murder your children or anybody else just because you have mental health problems.”

Gill went on to say the case reflects a broader cultural tendency to explain away wrongdoing through medical or psychological framing. “But I think, more fundamentally, we have gotten in a habit of medicalizing evil,” he said. “What happened here is a woman, maybe she had some problems — we don’t know all the details — who murdered three innocent children, full stop. That’s it. And because of that, I think justice demands that she would receive the death penalty, but, at the very least, whether she was hearing voices or not, it doesn’t really matter. She ought to be locked up and off of our streets for the rest of her life.”

Follow Jeff Poor on X @jeff_poor

It was the Saturday night talent show that defined an era: a glossy singing competition where backstage tension mattered almost as much as the thousands of aspiring stars hoping for a life-changing break.

At its height, The X Factor delivered exactly the kind of prime-time spectacle ITV craved. There were public clashes between celebrity judges, off-screen feuds that filled the papers, and contestant romances that kept viewers talking long after the credits rolled. Week after week, millions tuned in, turning the series into a ratings powerhouse.

Simon Cowell, the show’s creator and famously sharp-tongued head judge, appeared to thrive on every moment of it. Few television figures have ever understood — or enjoyed — the value of publicity quite like him.

Now, eight years after The X Factor’s final series ended following a decline in viewing figures, the once-dominant ITV singing contest is poised for a comeback.

But bringing the prime-time juggernaut back to life is, I’m told, already creating the sort of behind-the-scenes drama that once made the show irresistible. One insider says: ‘The problem with The X Factor was always that there were so many people involved – you had ITV, Simon Cowell’s team and the production company, Talkback Thames. That is why so many of the disagreements happened. Many of them were around money and that hasn’t changed.

‘There are lots of big ideas but little being agreed on right now.’

One of those big disagreements is said to be between ITV and Talkback, who are yet to finalise the fee the network will pay to broadcast the show. Half of that fee will go to Cowell, who owns the format and will have the final say on any decisions about how the show is made.

And those unresolved negotiations have led to an unedifying briefing war against ITV’s other singing show, The Voice, which moved from the BBC in 2017.

The aim, sources say, is to drive up the cost for The X Factor as much as possible by spreading allegations – very publicly – that The Voice isn’t doing well.

The show opened with a peak audience of 2.5 million in its Saturday night slot two weeks ago, which is a respectable figure on terrestrial channels today but doesn’t compare to the 19.4 million who watched Matt Cardle win The X Factor in 2010.

‘The Voice has always been a thorn in The X Factor’s side,’ says my insider. ‘It was once its BBC rival but when it moved to ITV things got very vicious on The X Factor side of things. It used The Voice as a stick to beat ITV with to get more money.’

The other sticking point that has led to ‘very irked people’ is Cheryl Tweedy’s move to The Voice. In nabbing the ex-Girls Aloud star, the show has denied The X Factor its hugely popular former judge as a mentor for the next series, which starts being filmed this month.

‘Even though she has been out of the limelight for a long time, she’s a national treasure, people love her,’ says the source.

Despite the row over money between ITV and Talkback, the numbers this time are significantly smaller than the eyewatering deals between Cowell and ITV in the past.

Regardless, Cowell will not allow it to be made cheaply. ‘He has far, far too much pride to do that,’ says a source who knows him. ‘He’s a perfectionist.’

That has left ITV, which is struggling financially, with a problem: It needs to find a way to afford it.

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In previous years, individual judges’ salaries alone were reported to be £1.5 million for the series – and up to £10 million for Robbie Williams and his wife Ayda Field.

‘Back in the day, each live episode might have cost around £1 million to make,’ says the source.

‘But back then, ITV made a lot of money from advertising. That doesn’t happen anymore, so you are looking at a huge reduction in costs. It would have half of the old sum, if not less.

‘Like other terrestrial broadcasters, ITV doesn’t have the money it used to have so it will struggle to make a big budget show now, but then Cowell won’t cut corners.

‘The problem for ITV is that Simon holds the keys. The X Factor cannot come back without his blessing and it if isn’t going to be up to his high standards then it won’t happen.’

I’m told one solution might be to have fewer live shows and more pre-recorded room auditions, which are cheaper to make.

As for the judges, sources at ITV say the channel is ‘beyond obsessed’ with influencers, while Talkback Thames is minded to stay with traditional celebrities.

Simon, however, won’t be taking centre stage again, sources have stressed. The live shows are a gruelling commitment and I understand he would rather do a second Netflix series. His first, Simon Cowell: The Next Act, last year created the boyband December 10.

‘ITV, like all channels, is really struggling to pull in viewers on Saturdays,’ an insider says. ‘Any return for The X Factor would have to be lower budget and there will need to be compromises.’

They are also discussing changing the format to appeal to a younger generation who do not typically watch TV on Saturday night. Some have suggested creating more controversial moments that can be shared on social media.

The insider added: ‘While Simon doesn’t want to be a judge, he could play some role on the show given how much he has learnt about appealing to the younger audience from work with December 10. Its success has convinced Simon that real talent can still be found on shows like this.’

This is something The Voice has failed at, repeatedly. ‘Can you name one winner?’ asks a source once heavily connected to The X Factor. They have a point.

The X Factor, which launched in 2004 with Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh as judges, has spawned some of the world’s most successful stars after winners and some runners-up secured deals with Cowell’s record label Syco Music.

Among them are Leona Lewis, with three number ones, One Direction (70 million records sold worldwide), and Little Mix (five number ones). ‘Simon is very proud of this,’ says a friend. ‘It would be a shame to undermine it all by bringing a Poundland version of The X Factor back.’

A Brisbane boxer who set up and attacked a man he suspected of being a paedophile in a so-called “vigilante honeytrap” has cautioned others against trying to copy what he did.

Cooper Watt, 20, admitted in court this week that he and two underage offenders targeted the 70-year-old after making contact with him through the gay dating app Grindr.

The court was told the group posed as a 15-year-old boy, sent the man a naked image and organised to meet him at a park in Deception Bay, north of Brisbane, in January 2025.

During the confrontation, they repeatedly labelled the man a paedophile as they assaulted him, then forced him to take $3,000 from a nearby ATM before leaving him bruised and injured.

Watt pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one count of robbery in company with personal violence and was sentenced to two years in prison, with parole granted immediately.

The Muay Thai fighter was also ordered to pay $3,000 to the victim, with the conviction recorded. 

On Friday, Watt told the Daily Mail he regretted his actions and wanted to apologise, but said he didn’t think paedophiles deserve the ‘same chance in society’. 

‘Obviously paedophilia is horrible, it’s a very heinous crime and ruins lives, right? But does that give you the right to meet up with them at a park? Absolutely not,’ Watt said.

‘I do feel remorse for what I’ve done and I never got the chance to say that in court.

‘Regardless of what he was there to do, I was in the wrong, I did break the law and sometimes people act out of character and on impulse.’ 

Watt, who was 18 at the time of the incident, denied the attack was premeditated and said he wasn’t sure why the group did it in the first place.

He said the victim was the only person the group had tried to target, but was unsure if he was chosen at random by his co-offender, who had started the messaging.

Watt rejected the claims made in court by prosecutor Zachary Kaplan that the attack was a hate crime because the victim was a gay man. 

‘It absolutely wasn’t. I work with lots of gay people, I’m friends with gay people, my aunties are gay,’ he said.

Watt said that, in hindsight, the group should have contacted police instead of assaulting the man.

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He is now warning other young men like him who are tempted to mount similar vigilante style attacks to think before they act, no matter what the temptation. 

‘Leave it to the police and don’t put it in your own hands,’ he said. ‘It’s not your responsibility, it’s theirs.

‘Whether they do their job or not is up to them.’

It comes after the court was told the assault was inspired by a ‘manosphere epidemic’ across social media.

‘It relates to what really is an epidemic, in relation to young men consuming theatre online and being encouraged to take back society from these people,’ the prosecutor told the court.

‘In this situation, this defendant and his two co-offenders have done exactly that.

‘Recently Louis Theroux released a documentary called Inside The Manosphere.

‘It addresses influences on social media platforms creating content where they lure what they consider to be paedophiles to a location, where they then extract vigilante justice.’

The comments come just weeks after another Brisbane man was the alleged target of a honeytrap-style incident.

Oliver Conroy, 27, was allegedly assaulted and carjacked in the inner Brisbane suburb of Kelvin Grove about 10.30pm on July 24.

He died two weeks later after receiving ‘catastrophic injuries’. 

Seven teenagers, including two girls aged 14 and 15, have been charged over his murder.

They are among 11 juveniles charged with murder under new Queensland laws.

If convicted, they face mandatory life sentences with a minimum of 20 years before parole under ‘adult crime, adult time’ laws introduced by Queensland’s Liberal National government.