PEOPLE are dying needlessly because they don’t know they have high blood pressure, health bosses say.

Public Health England have released new figures showing more than 287,500 people in Greater Manchester are unaware they suffer from the problem, which can lead to heart disease, strokes, certain types of dementia and chronic kidney disease.

If 15 per cent of these people were diagnosed, £120 million of NHS and social care spending could be avoided over a decade, they added.

Rona Daniels of the Greater Manchester Public Health centre said they have created an action plan to tackle the problem.

She said: “It is clear that too many people are dying from avoidable heart attacks and strokes.

“Preventing people from developing high blood pressure through healthy diets and exercise is essential, but by also ensuring those that do have high blood pressure are identified and receive the right treatment we can prevent a large number of premature deaths.

“To succeed we need national and local partners to take action, and this action plan will help support this.”

Health agencies, local and national government will work together to improve the prevention, early detection and management of high blood pressure across the country.

Public Health England have launched a new blood pressure quiz on NHS choices, where people can test their knowledge of the preventable condition, at www.nhs.uk/bloodpressurequiz.

Key lifestyle tips recommended to reduce blood pressure include maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet that is low in salt and rich in fruit and vegetables, exercising regularly and cutting back on alcohol.