Know Your Numbers! Week

Every September, volunteers give free blood pressure checks to thousands of passers-by to prevent heart attacks and strokes. 

Know Your Numbers! Week reaches those who have high blood pressure and don’t know it, so they can get the treatment and support they need to bring it under control.

Hundreds of organisations take part, setting up Pressure Stations in public places across the UK. From hospitals and health centres to offices, car parks and supermarkets. Even the Royal Albert Hall. Take a look at the highlights from past campaigns.

Know Your Numbers! Week 2022 

This year's campaign will take place from 5-11 September 2022

Don't miss your chance to take part in the UK's biggest blood pressure testing and awareness event. 

Download our Know Your Numbers! Week 2022 poster [PDF 608KB]

Click here to download our social media images for this year's campaign.

2022 sees the 22nd anniversary of Know your Numbers! Week. We are planning to mark this milestone with a new theme and activities and look forward to working with you on Know your Numbers! Week 2022.

Know Your Numbers! Week 2022 is taking place from 5-11 September. We won’t be offering free pressure checks in our community Pressure Stations again this year, but we will still encourage the whole of the UK to Know Their Numbers! We will build on our campaigns from the last two years as we get the nation to take up home monitoring. Save the date.

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

Our theme for 2022 is: Measure. Modify. Manage.

• Measure your blood pressure to see if it’s under control.
• Modify your lifestyle if necessary.
• Manage your blood pressure and your health to beat ‘the silent killer’.

We’ll be keeping the focus on home monitoring as it’s the easiest way to Know Your Numbers!, so you can take steps to lower them.  And we’re asking you to take the ‘Measure it’ challenge or encourage your friends, family, neighbours and colleagues to take the challenge and measure their blood pressure.

Let's make this the year we get everyone measuring their blood pressure at home. If you would like to be involved or simply share the message, see the different ways you can get involved below.

Home blood pressure monitoring is an effective and inexpensive way to keep blood pressure under control and the evidence behind it continues to get stronger. It gives you a way to take control of your health, feel confident and take the pressure off the NHS at the same time, as there’s no need to visit your GP, practice nurse or pharmacist in person. It puts you in the driver’s seat, and it really can save lives.

This year, we want everyone to Know Their Numbers! and find those with undiagnosed and uncontrolled high blood pressure. We will:

• encourage the nation to use a simple and reliable blood pressure monitor to measure their blood pressure at home
• and take the necessary steps if their reading is considered high
• raise awareness about the risks of high blood pressure.

Home monitoring offers a way for YOU to take control of your health, feel confident, and take the pressure off the NHS at the same time. It gives you a practical way to Know Your Numbers! without visiting your GP or pharmacist, and it really can save lives. 

High blood pressure can lead to heart attacks, strokes and other illnesses. Once you Know Your Numbers! you can get support to bring your blood pressure under control and prevent these diseases. 

Around a third of people in the UK have high blood pressure, but most don’t know it. It doesn’t have any symptoms so, the only way to find out is to have a blood pressure check. 

Visit our online measuring your blood at home resources hub to download our range of home blood pressure monitoring resources for this Know Your Numbers! Week and beyond. 

Download our Know Your Numbers! Week 2022 poster [PDF 608KB]

Click here to download our social media images for this year's campaign.

Know Your Numbers! Week 2022 is taking place from 5-11 September. If you would like to be involved – as a Pressure Partner or Patient Ambassador, or simply share the message, see the different ways you can get involved below. Registration is now closed.

How you can get involved

As a Pressure Partner or Patient Ambassador you have a crucial role to play. 

Become a Pressure Partner

This role is for pharmacies, gyms, leisure centres, hospitals, GP surgeries, care centres, Local authorities, libraries and employers. 

• Promote home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) by encouraging purchase (including in your own pharmacies) or sharing of blood pressure monitors. For example, online via your websites, newsletters and social media. 
• Offer guidance on how to use a monitor properly and what to do if the reading is high.
• Direct people to our website and helpline where they can find all sorts of information about choosing a home monitor, how to use it, and how to look after their blood pressure.
• Patients may not able to get a blood pressure check in pharmacies, GP surgeries at the moment, but patients still need help and guidance from their health care professional, and shared decision making on their treatment and medicine adherence. You have a vital role in offering this support. 
• Talk about the risks of high blood pressure such as heart disease, stroke and dementia, and reinforce the healthy lifestyle message, namely the role of healthy eating and physical activity.

Become a Patient Ambassador

This role is for the general public, patients and our members. As a Patient Ambassador, you will be a great support to our Pressure Partners (this year’s virtual Pressure Stations) and help spread the word.

• Host a ‘Home Pressure Station’ and measure the blood pressures of people in your ‘social bubble’.
• Speak to friends and family to encourage them to buy or borrow a blood pressure monitor and start measuring their blood pressure at home.
• Speak to community groups about home monitoring, such as your local Rotary, library or patient groups. 
• Start a group chat called ‘We Know Our Numbers’ where you can share healthy living ideas.
• Tell us your blood pressure story (anonymously if you wish) so we can inspire others to know their numbers.
• Direct people to our website and helpline where they can find all sorts of information about choosing a home monitor, how to use it, and looking after their blood pressure.  
• Plus, see the other ways you can help. 

Your participation will provide a great service to your community. We will support you with suggestions and resources. 

Find out more about Know Your Numbers!

New for 2022 – the blood pressure roadshow 

We’re working in part association with an organisation called Kinetik Wellbeing this year. We’re excited to announce that they will be hosting a van that will drive to five locations across England to give blood pressure checks to those who might not measure their blood pressure at home. Its last stop will be Westfield in Stratford, London, from Friday 9 to Sun 11 September where the press will help us get the message out on a national scale.

A full list of locations and venues that the van will be driving to during Know Your Numbers! Week along with the time at each location can be found here. Please spread the message and pop along if you are local or will be in the area at the time, and are not able to measure your blood pressure at home.

Social Media Images

The following images are available to download and use for Know Your Numbers! Week 2022. Please right click the image and choose the 'Save Image As' option.

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Check out some of our highlights from previous campaigns and see how we reach thousands of people every year. 

• 2022 – Measure. Modify. Manage.
  We got the nation checking their blood pressure at home for a third year. We encouraged the nation to measure their blood pressure, modify their lifestyle if necessary, and in turn manage their health.

• 2021 – Are YOUR pipes in good working order?
  We got the nation checking their blood pressure at home for a second year to take on the forgotten pandemic of high blood pressure. 

• 2020 – YOU are in control
  This year's Know Your Numbers! Week was a little different to usual, and we got the nation checking their blood pressure at home.

• 2019 – Live well for longer
  This year's Know Your Numbers! Week was all about knowing your blood pressure numbers to live a long and healthy life.

• 2018 – Do you KNOW YOUR risks of high blood pressure NUMBERS?
  Many people don’t know the risks associated with having uncontrolled or undiagnosed high blood pressure. We highlighted these risks and encouraged ALL family members to check their blood pressure to reduce their risk of stroke or CVD.

• 2017 – Stop stroke
  With the proportion of strokes in younger adults on the rise, we urged the UK to Know Your Numbers! regardless of your age.
  
  
• 2016 – Know Your Numbers! Know Your Risks!  
  This year we asked: Are you a risk taker? You are if you don't know your blood pressure numbers!
  
  
• 2015 – Make every second count
  A blood pressure check is quick, free, painless, and could save your life – that’s why we urged everyone to make every second count and get a check.
  
  
• 2014 – Hunt for the missing millions
  There are eight million people in the UK living with high blood pressure but not being treated for it – we set out to find them.  

• 2013 – Do you have lucky numbers?
  We asked: Do you have lucky numbers? and over 1,200 Pressure Stations helped us find out.
  
  
• 2012 – Do you know your Partner's blood pressure?
  We encouraged the nation to not only find out their own blood pressure numbers, but their partner’s too.
  
  
• 2011 – Ignorance isn’t always bliss
  We revealed that nearly three quarters of UK adults don't know their blood pressure numbers. 

• 2010 – Are you gambling with your health?
  Nurses at Caer Health in Wales took 2,300 blood pressures in eight hours, smashing the Guinness World Record.
  
  
• 2009 – Could you be the one in three?
  A third of adults have high blood pressure and a third of those don’t know it – we went in search of the one in three.
  
  
• 2008 – Are you at risk from the blood pressure time bomb?
  A quarter of a million people had a free blood pressure check as we tried to stop the blood pressure time bomb, an achievement recognised by The Charity Awards.

• 2007 – Finding the missing millions
  16 million people in the UK have high blood pressure but 5.3 million of them don’t know it, putting them at risk of heart attacks and stroke. We set out to find them.

Feeling inspired? See how you can get involved.