Get your blood pressure checked for free, it could save your life!

With 1 in 3 adults in the UK having high blood pressure, health partners and workplaces across Cornwall are teaming up to increase the number of people getting their blood pressure checked throughout September.

Manufacturers, local police, harbours and wellbeing festivals across Cornwall are offering free blood pressure checks as part of Blood Pressure UK’s ‘Know Your Numbers! Week’ from 2 to 8 September, and as part of an NHS South West drive that will continue throughout the month and beyond.

Among the employers supporting this campaign are the National Trust, clotted cream manufacturers Rodda’s, Coastline Housing and local police forces, offering staff free checks in the workplace from trained health professionals.

Often called the ‘silent killer’ as it rarely has symptoms, high blood pressure is one of the biggest causes of premature death. Left untreated, it increases the risk of serious problems such as heart attacks and strokes.

It’s not always clear what causes high blood pressure, but the risk increases if you are:

• overweight, or don’t eat enough fruit and vegetables
• not doing enough exercise
• drinking too much alcohol
• smoking
• stressed
• over 65 years old or have a relative with high blood pressure
• of Black African or Black Caribbean descent

Eating healthily, maintaining a healthy weight, moving more, lowering your alcohol intake, and not smoking can all help reduce your blood pressure.

In Cornwall, we could prevent more than 150 heart attacks and strokes this year by identifying and treating people with high blood pressure.

Aisling Crombie, Director of Nursing for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly said: “High blood pressure is one of the biggest causes of premature death in the South West and it is often called the ‘silent killer’ as it rarely has symptoms. But if untreated, it increases your risk of serious problems such as heart attacks and strokes. Providing simple and free blood pressure checks to people across Cornwall is part of our commitment to preventing ill health in the future.

“We are grateful to the many employers taking part and providing time for their staff to receive a free blood pressure check. This could be life saving for some.

“It really is easy to get your blood pressure checked in Cornwall. You can pop into a local pharmacy (if you’re aged 40 or over), attend an event, or even borrow a monitor from your local library. So don’t delay, get your blood pressure checked today.”

Ruth Goldstein, Assistant Director of Public Health for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly said: “With 1 in 3 adults having high blood pressure, it’s vital that people know their numbers and get their blood pressure checked. It’s also really important to not ignore a high reading from the blood pressure check, and for people to seek medical advice when this is the case.

“That’s why we are working with local employers, local authority and public health teams to offer simple and free blood pressure checks. We’re also providing advice on the small changes that people can make that will have a big impact on their long-term health.

“We have made great progress in increasing awareness of the dangers of high blood pressure, but more must be done to support more people to know their numbers and the changes they need to make to reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks.”

In a new scheme launching during ‘Know Your Numbers! Week’, blood pressure monitors are now available to borrow free of charge from all libraries across the county. Members of the public can borrow the monitors in the same way they would borrow a book. All you need is a library card. If you don’t have one, just pop into your local library or sign up on the Cornwall Council website.

A state-of-the art piece of equipment will also be taking up residence at St Austell Library from the beginning of September. The wellbeing kiosk is described as a self-service piece of kit with a 1980s arcade machine feel. It will provide people with information on their blood pressure, as well as other health statistics including heart rate and cardiovascular risk.

Family and friends can also help encourage their loved ones who are aged 40 plus to have their blood pressure checked. Free checks are offered at many local pharmacies, and at GP surgeries as part of the NHS Health Check or ask when attending a routine appointment. People can check what the result might mean using the NHS blood pressure checker. 

Partners, businesses and the voluntary sector right across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly’s health and care system are committed to providing free blood pressure checks and advice throughout the year, as part of our local Healthier Together campaign.

Healthy Cornwall and Active Cornwall provide a range of free support and activities to help local people lead a healthier, happier lifestyle. These include weight management, healthy eating, moving more and stopping smoking.

For more information on the importance of a blood pressure check, knowing what those numbers mean and what to do next, visit NHS England’s check your blood pressure webpage.