Help to STOP Stroke by hosting a ‘Pressure Station’
High blood pressure causes over half of all strokes - Know Your Numbers! Week 2017 is being held 18-24 September
Almost one in three adults has high blood pressure and is at risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney disease and vascular dementia[1]. However many people don’t know they have it as high blood pressure rarely has any symptoms - the only way to know you have it is to have it measured.
More than half of all strokes are caused by high blood pressure and stroke is the 4th largest cause of death and the biggest cause of disability in the UK. As well as the impact it has on individuals and their families, high blood pressure costs the NHS in excess of £2 billion a year[2].
Know Your Numbers!
Know Your Numbers! Week is the award-winning flagship campaign from Blood Pressure UK and is the UK’s largest blood pressure testing and awareness event.
Know Your Numbers! Week encourages people to have their blood pressure measured so they can take the steps needed to maintain a healthy blood pressure and STOP Stroke.
Last year more than 7000 people were tested during Know Your Numbers! Week. Almost half of those tested had ‘pre-hypertensive’ readings and 16% had high blood pressure readings and had not known previously.
We are calling on all health care professionals and organisations that are committed to improving public health to host a ‘Pressure Station’ during Know Your Numbers! Week 2017, and encourage people to have their blood pressure measured. As well as passing Pressure Stations by chance, members of the public can search for their nearest Pressure Station online.
Professor Graham MacGregor, Chairman of Blood Pressure UK says: ‘Having your blood pressure checked is one of the biggest steps that people can take to reduce their risk of stroke and other diseases. By signing up to host Pressure Stations, organisations will be raising awareness of high blood pressure and helping people to know their blood pressure, and if it is too high people can take steps to manage it and reduce their risk of stroke.”
High blood pressure is one of the most preventable and treatable conditions therefore it’s important that people have their blood pressure checked and if it is high, speak to their healthcare professional and make the necessary lifestyle changes to help them manage it.
Dave Barnard, Occupational Health Technician at Bradgate Bakery, who has participated in a previous Know Your Numbers! told us:“I was surprised at the number of people that wanted to be tested. Because of this event, we identified employees with raised blood pressure, who would not otherwise have been tested.”
Sign up to participate in Know Your Numbers! Week or for more information, please contact:
Hemini Bharadia on 020 7882 6255 or at hemini.bharadia@bloodpressureuk.org
If you'd simply like to come along for a blood pressure check, you will be able to find your nearest Pressure Station soon.
About Blood Pressure UK
Blood Pressure UK is the UK’s leading blood pressure charity working to lower the nation’s blood pressure to prevent disability and death from stroke and heart disease. The charity provides information and support for people with high blood pressure and raises awareness to prevent the condition. For more information visit the charity’s website at www.bloodpressureuk.org.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-matters-combating-high-blood-pressure/health-matters-combating-high-blood-pressure
[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-matters-combating-high-blood-pressure/health-matters-combating-high-blood-pressure