Adults aged 40 and over encouraged to get free blood pressure checks
Shropshire Council’s public health leads are encouraging all adults aged 40 and over to get a blood pressure check for free at their nearest pharmacy.
The call to action is part of the Department of Health and Social Care and the NHS’ new campaign launched this week.
Blood pressure – get checked for free in pharmacy today
Left untreated, high blood pressure can significantly increase your risk of a fatal heart attack, stroke and dementia. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get a blood pressure test. It’s a free, simple and non-invasive procedure, conducted in privacy at your local pharmacy, and you don’t need to book in advance.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the second biggest killer in England, causing a quarter of all deaths – around one death every four minutes; and since 202 and the pandemic starting, deaths from CVD have been increasing. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, the biggest risk factor in CVD, is often undiagnosed, as it can have no symptoms.
It is estimated that there are 4.2 million people in England who are currently walking around with undiagnosed hypertension. Yet many of these deaths are preventable because it can be easily managed.
Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care and public health, said:-
“We are supporting the Department of Health and Social Care and the NHS on a new campaign urging eligible adults aged 40 and over to get a free blood pressure check at their nearest pharmacy.
“We know that half of all strokes and heart attacks are caused by high blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to CVD, responsible for one in four premature deaths in the UK. This is why it is so important for adults to know their blood pressure numbers and to seek advice if they are high.
“I strongly encourage residents across Shropshire, especially those who are aged 40 or over, to get their blood pressure checked. Checking your blood pressure is quick, simple and painless, and it could save your life.”
Rachel Robinson, Shropshire’s Director of Public Health, added:-
“High blood pressure is responsible for 1 in 4 deaths in England; it can have no symptoms, but it can be easily treated. An estimated 4.2 million people in England are unaware they have it, and the only way to know is to get a blood pressure check.
“The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get a blood pressure test, which is a free, simple, non-invasive procedure and can be completed in a private space at a participating pharmacy.
“Even if your blood pressure is high then there are things you can do to treat it with medication and/or lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet, or reducing alcohol and smoking. We have lots of advice and information on our Healthy Shropshire webpages that can support your health and wellbeing. You can find out more at Healthy Shropshire | Shropshire Council.”
You can find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks near you by searching “pharmacy blood pressure check” or clicking here: Find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Volunteers wanted
Oswestry-based community charity Qube are working with Shropshire Council and NHS, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin to support the Shropshire Community Blood Pressure Checks Project. The project aims to recruit volunteers from across Shropshire to target high-risk populations to increase the detection of hypertension and improve awareness of CVD risk factors.
If you have some spare time and wish to volunteer you can find out more about the project at Qube | Cancer Champions Programme (qube-oca.org.uk)
