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Neston MP Urges Residents to Get Blood Pressure Checked

Residents from Ellesmere Port & Neston are being urged by their local MP, Justin Madders, to make time for their health by taking part in Blood Pressure UK's ‘Know Your Number! Week'.

A survey from the charity Blood Pressure UK has revealed that a shocking 33% of people haven't had their blood pressure checked in the last year as they don't think it affects them, yet just a couple of minutes spent thinking about health could save their life.

The independent survey of over 1000 Britons also showed that out of those people who hadn't had their blood pressure taken in the last year, 25% don't even consider it as a health issue. It also revealed if they had a few extra minutes of time in their day, rather than undertaking a potentially life-saving blood pressure check (11.6%), top of their list of things to do would be to make a cup of tea (44%)!

The Know Your Numbers! campaign is the UK's biggest blood pressure testing event and this, its fourteenth, year aims is to highlight that in the time it takes to boil a kettle, you could have taken a blood pressure reading which might save your life. A shocking 16 million people in the UK suffer from high blood pressure, which is the biggest risk factor for stroke and heart attacks yet 63% did not know their blood pressure numbers.[1]

Professor Graham MacGregor, Chairman at Blood Pressure UK, said: "We wanted to find out what people were spending their time doing rather than spending time thinking about their health and checking their blood pressure. This year we are urging everyone to make every second count - it's quick, free, painless, and could save your life.

"Over half of the estimated 16 million people in the UK living with high blood pressure are unaware they have the condition, as it is symptomless. The only way to ‘Know Your Numbers' is to have a blood pressure test at one of our free Pressure Stations in your area, your GP, local pharmacy, or by using a home blood pressure monitor".

High blood pressure is the UK's biggest silent killer, responsible for 60% of strokes and 40% of heart attacks. High blood pressure is also a risk factor for kidney disease and dementia. Volunteers hosting the ‘Pressure Stations' provide information and advice on simple steps to keep blood pressure under control.

Justin Madders said: "I am supporting Blood Pressure UK's Know Your Numbers! Week from 14th-20th September because taking steps to lower blood pressure is something we can all do to improve our general health. I would like to urge as many of my constituents as possible to drop in to a Pressure Station near them to have a free blood pressure check. However, if they are not able to or there isn't a Pressure Station near to them, then I would encourage them to visit their GP or try home blood pressure monitoring as it is vital they know their numbers or pop in to their local pharmacy as many pharmacies do offer free blood pressure checks".

Katharine Jenner, Chief Executive of Blood Pressure UK, added: "It's great that Justin Madders MP is supporting Know Your Numbers! Week 2015. With so much happening in our lives it is often difficult to find the time to prioritise our health, but a quick free check of your blood pressure could be all it takes to prevent more serious issues developing later for members of his constituency.

"We're grateful to everyone who supports this campaign and want this year to be the busiest yet, so are urging everyone to stop by your local Pressure Station, GPs surgery, pharmacy, or by using a home blood pressure monitor."

For further information on Blood Pressure UK and Know Your Numbers! Week, go to: www.bloodpressureuk.org/microsites/kyn/Home/AboutKYN

To find your nearest check visit:
http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/microsites/kyn/Home/Freebpchecks/Findfreecheck

Editor's note:  Having clicked on the link above and input the CH64 postcode, the nearest free blood pressure check stations are coming up as being in Liverpool and Prestatyn!  I would therefore urge anyone who wishes to take up the advice in this article to contact their GP as I am sure appointments can be made for routine blood pressure checks at both Neston doctors' surgeries.

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