Over 40s encouraged to check their blood pressure

NHS and Public Health professionals are encouraging people aged 40 plus to check their blood pressure.

It’s part of a week-long national ‘Know Your Numbers’ campaign, beginning Monday 2 September, to raise awareness of high blood pressure.

Known as ‘the silent killer’, high blood pressure is a major cause of heart attack and stroke, but often has no symptoms.

Knowing your blood pressure – ‘Knowing Your Numbers’ – means that you can start making healthy lifestyle changes or start taking medicines if you need them to bring your blood pressure down to a healthy level.

Many local pharmacies across Devon are now offering free blood pressure checks. To check whether your local pharmacy offers free blood pressure checks visit the NHS webpage.

People can check what the result might mean using the NHS blood pressure checker.

Dr Michael Marsh, Regional Medical Director for NHS England South West, said:

“You could think of high blood pressure in your blood vessels like the water pressure in a garden hose – when the water flows through the hose normally everything is fine.

“But if you put your finger on the end and block the flow, the pressure builds and you may get leaks from the hose. When you have high blood pressure this can have a detrimental impact on your organs and puts you at risk of a heart attack or stroke.

“Left undetected and untreated high blood pressure becomes a silent killer, because it rarely has symptoms. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get it checked.”

To find out more about how to test your blood pressure at home, get advice on choosing a monitor and get tips to help you to reduce your blood pressure visit British Heart Foundation.

A number of outreach sessions are planned, running throughout the Know Your Numbers week and later in September, to encourage people over the age of 40 to find out their blood pressure, and to receive advice about how to manage high blood pressure.

Local sessions from next week

• Paignton Library, Great Western Road, Paignton, Devon, TQ4 5AG, Monday to Friday (daily), 10.00am-1.30pm
• Ernest English House, Buckwell Street, Plymouth, PL1 2DA, Monday 2 September, 10:00am-4.00pm
• Exeter Library, Castle Street, Exeter, Devon, EX4 3PQ, Tuesday 3 September, 9.00am-1.00pm
• Greendale Vaccination Centre, Sidmouth Road, EX5 2JU, Tuesday 3 September, 2.30pm-5.00pm
• Crediton Tesco, Joseph Locke Way, Crediton, EX17 3FD, Tuesday 3 September, 10.00am-3.00pm
• Asda Bideford Superstore, Clovelly Road, Bideford, EX39 3QU, Thursday 5 September, 9am – 4pm
• Happy Hearts – Scala Hall, New Road, Brixham, TQ5 8TA, Thursday 5 September, 10.00am-12.00pm
• Paignton Community Hub, Great Western Road, Paignton, Devon, TQ4 5AG, Thursday 5 September, 9.30am-12.30pm
• B&Q, Avocet Road, Sowton Industrial Estate, Exeter, EX2 7ST, Friday 6 September, 9.30am-3.30pm
• Plymstock Library, 10 Horn Cross Road, Plymstock, PL9 9BU, Friday 6 September, 10.00am-4.00pm
• Seaton Community Hub – Methodist church, Scalwell Lane, Seaton, EX12 2JN, Friday 6 September, 10.00am-2.00pm
• Torbay Pride, ‘The Market Village’ Torre Abbey Meadows, Torbay Road, Torquay, TQ2 5DG, Saturday 7 September (11am–6pm) and Sunday (2pm–5pm)
• Torquay United Football Club, Warbro Road, Torquay, TQI 3PS, Saturday 21 September, 12.30pm–2.30pm