It’s Blood Pressure UK’s Know Your Numbers Week (8-14 September). This annual campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers of high blood pressure and how to get your blood pressure checked.
Around 88,000 people in mid and south Essex have undiagnosed high blood pressure. This invisible danger often has no symptoms and increases your risk of serious long-term illnesses including heart attacks, strokes and vascular dementia.
Factors like your age, family background, ethnicity and how you live – such as what you eat and stress levels – can all raise your chances of having high blood pressure.
Checking your blood pressure is one of the simplest ways to protect your health.
- Local pharmacies across our area are offering free blood pressure checks for people aged 40 and over. You can find a participating pharmacy online.
- Adults aged 40-74 can have their blood pressure checked as part of a NHS Health Check.
- At your GP.
If you have already been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you can monitor your blood pressure at home to help you manage your condition via the BP@Home scheme.
Find out more about blood pressure at NHS Mid and South Essex’s Invincible Feeling, Invisible Danger blood pressure webpages.