Thank you for taking part in Know Your Numbers! Week 2021
We made this the year of home monitoring to take on the forgotten pandemic
For our 21st Know Your Numbers! Week, we got the nation checking their blood pressure at home to take on the forgotten pandemic of high blood pressure.
Nearly 6 million people in the UK have high blood pressure and don’t know it, which is why every September we get the nation to Know Their Numbers! High blood pressure can lead to heart attacks and strokes, but these can be prevented with a simple blood pressure check and treatment if you need it.
We took the campaign online for a second year, providing the nation with the resources not only to check their blood pressure, but to get it under control. As well as keeping an eye on your blood pressure, it’s especially important to eat less salt as salt directly raises your blood pressure.
Here’s a snapshot of some of the highlights from the week.
Our survey finds four in ten adults ignore the need to get a blood pressure check
High blood pressure is a leading cause of strokes and heart attacks, yet our new survey showed it’s not a leading cause of concern:
- over a third (37%) of respondents stated their blood pressure is not of concern
- four in ten adults ignore the need to check their blood pressure
- almost four in ten (39%) don’t understand why they should know their blood pressure numbers
- two thirds said the pandemic has not made them want to improve their general health – despite heart disease and being overweight, along with other conditions, being a risk factor for complications of COVID-19.
This year’s poster went down a storm
Our fabulous poster asked the question ‘Are your pipes in working order?’ and went down a storm on social media.
Getting the word out with webinars
We hosted a series of webinars reaching people in the workplace. Katharine Jenner spoke to Public Health England, the London Metropolitan Police and an engineering company explaining why it’s important to Know Your Numbers!. She gave a demo of how to measure blood pressure at home and explained how lifestyle changes and medication can help. The talks were very well received:
“Thanks Katharine. Great info. Receiving my new monitor tomorrow!”
“Thank you, my husband has just been diagnosed with high blood pressure so this has been very helpful”
“Thank you so much. Really informative.”
Our resources help you feel confident measuring your blood pressure at home
Our home monitoring hub which we promoted throughout the week will give you the confidence to measure your blood pressure at home. It includes a simple guide to how to measure your blood pressure, a video showing you how to accurately measure your blood pressure at home and a record card to show your GP.
We explain why knowing your numbers is so important
Our Chairman Professor Graham MacGregor, new CEO Phil Pyatt and Marketing Manager Hemini Bharadia explain why it’s so important to get a diagnosis and treatment early in our press release.
We reached thousands on social media
We had lots of activity on twitter and Facebook with health professionals, researchers and politicians alike getting involved, as well as those who simply want to Know Their Numbers!
GPs and pharmacists shared the message and put out videos, we had support from NHS England and local councils, NHS Trusts and CCGs, and health charities BHF, the Stroke Association and May Measurement Month got on board.
We had support from high-profile decision-makers
We had support from Professor Jamie Waterall, National Lead for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at PHE, and Dr Shahed Ahmed, National Clinical Director for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at NHS England.
Reducing the burden of high blood pressure is a key part of PHE’s 10-year national ambitions to prevent diseases of the heart and blood vessels, aiming to prevent 150,000 heart attacks and strokes over the next 10 years.
We made a splash in the media
i news featured Blood Pressure UK supporter and hero Steve Rebus who was left blind due to complications of high blood pressure, and now checks his blood pressure regularly – as well as everyone around him.
BBC morning live featured Dr Xand Van Tulleken talking about the Know Your Numbers! Week campaign. He gave a very helpful explanation of the things that raise your blood pressure in the short term and long term, when to measure you blood pressure, and what a normal reading looks like.
The Times epaper explained why “Ignoring blood pressure checks is a silent killer”.
Volunteers measured blood pressures in the community
While the campaign was mainly online, some pop-up Pressure Stations went ahead safely, offering free blood pressure checks in the community.
Thank you
We want to say a huge thank you to all that have taken part, whether to share the message or if you checked your blood pressure at home.
