16 million people in the UK have high blood pressure
Published on 16 September 2015 09:30 AM
Millions urged to ‘make every second count' and get a quick, free, and painless blood pressure check during Know Your Numbers! Week (14-20 September 2015)
A shocking 29% of people spend more time worrying about their finances than their own health according to a survey undertaken by charity Blood Pressure UK as part of its ‘Know Your Numbers! Week' campaign.
The survey has revealed that finances topped the list of what most Britons worry about, followed closely by their children (17%), then their own health third, at just 15%, yet just a couple of minutes spent thinking about health could save their life.
High blood pressure is the UK's biggest silent killer
The independent survey of over 1000 Britons 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 and 25% don't even consider high blood pressure as a health issue.
The Know Your Numbers! campaign is the UK's biggest blood pressure testing event and this (it's fourteenth) year's aim 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.
Professor Graham MacGregor, Chairman at Blood Pressure UK, said: '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.
Katharine Jenner, Chief Executive of Blood Pressure UK, added: '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 on in life.
'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 pharmacy, local Pressure Station, GPs surgery or by using a home blood pressure monitor.'
Professor Kevin Fenton, Public Health England's Director of Health and Wellbeing said: 'There are a number of things you can do to find out your blood pressure numbers, such as attending an NHS Health Check when invited, or visiting your local pharmacy for a check-up. You can also look at changing your lifestyle habits such as losing weight, exercising more, eating a healthy diet and cutting down on salt.'