Around 5 million adults aged 18 to 64 in the UK could be living with undiagnosed high blood pressure – a major risk factor for stroke, heart attack, kidney disease, and early death.
It can lead to heart and circulatory disease, also known as cardiovascular disease (CVD), which causes a quarter of all deaths in the UK – the equivalent of around 2,300 deaths each month in the Midlands alone.
Wolverhampton residents can check their blood pressure for free, without an appointment, by using a self service health monitor at WV Active Aldersley, WV Active Bilston-Bert Williams, WV Active Central, Central Library, Warstones Library, Bilston Library, Wednesfield Library or the Bob Jones Community Hub.
For locations and opening times of WV Active sites, please visit WV Active and for libraries, visit Find your nearest library.
Alternatively, community pharmacies offer a free blood pressure check service for people aged 40 and over with no previous history of high blood pressure; to find your local pharmacy, please visit Find a pharmacy.
Councillor Obaida Ahmed, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, said: “We’re proud to support Know Your Numbers! Week by offering free blood pressure checks in our community.
"High blood pressure is the biggest risk factor for strokes. It is also known as the silent killer, with a third of people with high blood pressure not knowing they have it.
"So please make sure you know your numbers and get a free blood pressure check – it only takes a few minutes, but the impact can last a lifetime."
Know Your Numbers! Week, which runs until Sunday (15 September), is an annual campaign led by charity Blood Pressure UK. It provides the following advice to help maintain a healthy blood pressure:
- Cut down on salt – Reducing your salt intake it the quickest way to lower your blood pressure.
- Don’t add it when cooking or at the table, avoid using stock cubes, gravy and soy sauce, check food labels and avoid processed foods high in salt – aim to eat less than 6g a day
- Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables – at least 5 different portions every day
- Watch your weight – try to reach the right weight for your height
- Exercise regularly – that doesn’t have to mean the gym, how about a regular lunchtime walk? 30 minutes, 5 times a week is ideal. If you are unsure about taking up exercise, ask your GP
Drink alcohol in moderation – up to 14 units a week for both men and women – a glass of wine or a pint of beer is 2 to 3 units.
For more details, please visit Know Your Numbers.
