Swindon Borough Council is urging local residents to get their blood pressure checked for free as part of national Know Your Numbers Week, the UK’s biggest blood pressure testing event held at ‘Pressure Stations’ around the country from 10-16 September 2018.
Volunteers hosting the Pressure Station will provide information and advice on simple steps to keep blood pressure under control and will measure your blood pressure accurately.
This comes as charity Blood Pressure UK cautions that ignoring health warnings, particularly about poor diet and excess salt intake, is leading more people to develop high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. This can put people at risk of having an early stroke, especially when they don’t know their blood pressure numbers.
With unhealthy lifestyles and poor diet contributing to more people in their 30s, 40s and 50s being diagnosed with hypertension, around one in three people in the UK are now living with high blood pressure, with 6.5 million people still remaining undiagnosed.
Key risk factors for developing high blood pressure are eating too much salt, not enough fruit and vegetables, being overweight and not enough exercise.
Cllr Brian Ford, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults, said: “Having high blood pressure now could lead to health problems like having a heart attack, stroke or developing certain types of dementia in the future.
“However, if detected, high blood pressure can be easily treated, thereby reducing your risk of these problems. I’d encourage you to visit one of our Pressure Stations next week and get your blood pressure checked.”
You can speak to your local pharmacy about getting your blood pressure checked or Swindon Borough Council is also offering free checks as follows:
- Monday, 10 September from 11am – 2pm at Swindon Borough Council One Stop Shop (Wat Tyler House, Beckhampton Street, Swindon, SN1 2JH)
- Tuesday, 11 September from 11am – 2pm at Great Western Hospital Atrium (Marlborough Road, Swindon, SN3 6BB)
- Thursday, 13 September from 10am -12pm at Broadgreen Community Centre (Salisbury St, Swindon SN1 2AN)
- Friday, 14 September from 11am – 2pm at Great Western Hospital Atrium (Marlborough Road, Swindon, SN3 6BB)
For further information on Blood Pressure UK and to find your nearest check, visit:www.bloodpressureuk.org
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