By Karen Evennett PUBLISHED: 19:40 EST, 29 July 2013 | UPDATED: 19:40 EST, 29 July 2013 Susan Thornton, 48, had nine episodes (in which she was rushed off to A&E to treat her chest pains and breathlessness) before it was revealed she has Conn's syndrome High blood pressure affects around ten million people in the UK. Dubbed the silent killer, the condition is often symptomless yet is a leading cause of stroke, which strikes around 150,000 Britons every year and kills 40,000. The condition is defined as having blood pressure readings above 140/90 - and the risk of stroke doubles with every 20 point rise in systolic blood pressure above 115 (this is the top number and measures the blood pressure during every heartbeat - the bottom number, diastolic, is the blood pressure between beats).
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Those unresponsive to the pills may have growths on their adrenal glands
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These growths mean the hormone aldosterone is being overproduced
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Too much of it can lead to high blood pressure
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This is a condition known as Conn's syndrome
@placeholder has not suffered from high blood pressure since having surgery to remove the growth in her gland.