Thousands of UK adults are risking their heart health because they don't know the warning signs for coronary heart disease (CHD), a poll has found.
The British Heart Foundation surveyed over 2,000 people and found only 2% were afraid of developing coronary heart disease, even though it is the UK's single biggest killer.
The survey found nine out of ten people (90%) wrongly believe high blood pressure comes with symptoms.
Considered as the "silent killer", it can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke but has no side effects.
The BHF now estimates up to seven million people are walking around with undiagnosed high blood pressure and don't know it.
Almost one in five people (19%) surveyed didn't know CHD can be caused by smoking, while more than one in three people (34%) didn't know it can cause a stroke.
Half of adults (50%) don't realise having diabetes can increase your risk of CHD. One in ten adults (10%) also confessed to not knowing how to look after their hearts.
Coronary heart disease kills 73,000 people a year - on average one every seven minutes.
Dr Mike Knapton, the BHF's associate medical director, said: "The heart is the most vital organ in the body, but all too often we take it for granted. Despite being a largely preventable condition, coronary heart disease is still the UK's single biggest killer, causing unnecessary heartache for thousands of families."
