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5 minutes with… Dr Pauline Swift, Chair of Blood Pressure UK

Find out what drew our Chair Dr. Pauline Swift to work in blood pressure and cardiovascular health.

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5 minutes with… Dr Pauline Swift, Chair of Blood Pressure UK

  1. What first drew you to work in blood pressure and cardiovascular health?
    I did my very first pre-registration house office job with Professor Graham MacGregor and I was struck by his passionate belief and determination to prove that salt intake caused high blood pressure. Some years later, when I was training as a resident doctor in kidney medicine, I realised that blood pressure control and kidney disease were inter-related and I approached Prof MacGregor in 2000 to do some research with him. Those years, working in the Blood Pressure Unit with Graham and Nirmala and the team, were pivotal, as they taught me that prevention, early diagnosis and good long-term blood pressure control had to be my career focus.
  2. Why is high blood pressure such an important issue for the UK right now?
    We estimate that millions of adults in the UK either don’t know they have high blood pressure or don’t have it well controlled. If we can help more people know their numbers and act on them, we can prevent thousands of avoidable deaths and reduce the pressure on an already stretched NHS.
  3. What are your priorities as Chair of Blood Pressure UK in 2026?
    My priorities are threefold. First, reaching more people in communities where the risk is highest and diagnosis rates are lowest. Second, making it easier for people to check their blood pressure at home, at work or in their local pharmacy. And third, working with policymakers and partners to make blood pressure a national prevention priority, not an afterthought. Everything we do should move us closer to a future where knowing your numbers is as normal as knowing your height or shoe size.

 

  1. What’s one practical step our readers can take this week to protect their blood pressure?
    If you don’t know your numbers, make a plan to get them checked. That’s the most important step. If you already know your blood pressure, choose one small lifestyle change and stick with it for a month: cutting back on salt, adding a daily 20-30-minute walk, or swapping one or two alcoholic drinks for alcohol-free options. Small, realistic changes, done consistently, make a bigger difference than radical short-lived resolutions.
  2. How can supporters best help Blood Pressure UK this year?
    Three things really help. Share our messages with friends, family and colleagues so more people understand why blood pressure matters. Consider fundraising or taking on a challenge event to support our work. And, if you’re an employer or community leader, think about hosting a blood pressure day with us. Every conversation, every check and every pound raised helps us prevent strokes and heart disease and improves the lives of people living with high blood pressure.