#KnowYourNumbers by checking your blood pressure regularly
When did you last check your blood pressure?
Know Your Numbers Week (September 5 to 11) is a national campaign to raise awareness about the importance of checking your blood pressure, especially for those who are over the age of 40. Around one third of adults in the UK have high blood pressure which rarely has noticeable symptoms but if untreated, it increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.
You can get your blood pressure checked at an NHS pharmacy, an NHS Health Check appointment offered to adults in England aged 40-74, at home or at your local GP surgery.
Latest figures show between October 2021 and July 2022, the NHS Community Pharmacy Blood Pressure Check Service delivered more than 275,000 blood pressure and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring checks to people aged 40 and over, and to date around 8,423 pharmacies are set up to deliver the service across England.
Analysis predicts that as the service continues to develop over the next five years, 8,140 strokes and 5,500 heart attacks could be prevented as a result of the tests and around 4,400 lives could be saved.
The NHS in England has allocated some patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure with a blood pressure monitor so that they can take their readings conveniently, safely and accurately in their own homes and share readings with their general practice as agreed
Did you know?
- Around one third of adults in the UK have high blood pressure
- Around 8 million people in England have diagnosed high blood pressure
- High blood pressure rarely has noticeable symptoms. But if untreated, it increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.
- An ideal blood pressure is under 120/80mmHg
- High blood pressure disproportionately affects those from black and ethnic minority backgrounds or those living in areas of high deprivation
- High blood pressure increases your risk of heart attack or stroke – knowing your numbers could save your life
- The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure tested.
- It's recommended that all adults over 40 years of age have their blood pressure tested at least every five years so any potential problems can be detected early
- If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, it’s important to have your blood pressure tested more regularly, at least once a year.
Find out more: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/blood-pressure-test/ or visit NHS UK and British Heart Foundation.