Lincolnshire residents are being urged to take action and check their blood pressure in a push to improve the public’s awareness during Blood Pressure UK national Know Your Numbers week.
Councillor Wendy Bowkett, Executive Councillor for Adult Care and Public Health, explained: “High blood pressure can increase your risk of having a heart attack and stroke, and so knowing your blood pressure could save your life. Many people with high blood pressure feel fine, and so you could have high blood pressure and not know it.
“There are many opportunities for people to have their blood pressure checked. For example, if they receive an invitation for an NHS Health Check or have a regular health check because of another long-term condition that they have. Some workplaces and pharmacies may offer blood pressure testing and people can also measure their blood pressure at home using a confirmed accurate and reliable monitor.”
In Lincolnshire, 138,044 people are on a hypertension general practice register (2021/22), over 17% of the registered Lincolnshire population. However, it is estimated that nearly 200,000 people could have hypertension in Lincolnshire because some people have it, without knowing. (In the UK it is thought that 6 million people have high blood pressure and do not know it).
Andy Fox, Assistant Director of Public Health, added: “It’s quick and easy to test what your numbers are with a reliable monitor either as part of a health check with your GP or local pharmacy or you can keep a regular check yourself at home. The monitor provides two numbers, and ideally, you should have a blood pressure reading between 90/60 and 120/80.
“It’s worth reminding people of the importance of following a healthy lifestyle to help keep your blood pressure where it should be. Remember, you are at a higher risk of high blood pressure if: you eat too much salt, you don’t eat enough fruit and vegetables, you are not active enough, you are overweight, you drink too much alcohol or you smoke.”
The Blood Pressure UK Know your Numbers week reaches out to those who have high blood pressure and don’t know it, so they can get the treatment and support they need to bring it under control. The aim is to encourage everyone to Know Their Numbers and find those with undiagnosed and uncontrolled high blood pressure.