Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure affects millions of people across the UK. It is often described as a silent killer because it usually has no symptoms, meaning many people may not know they have it until serious health problems develop.
People may be at greater risk of high blood pressure if they are aged 40 or over, are overweight, smoke, drink too much alcohol, have a family history of high blood pressure, have diabetes, kidney disease or other conditions that can affect cardiovascular health, or are from a Black African, Black Caribbean or South Asian background, where risk can be higher.
Getting checked is quick, simple and painless. If high blood pressure is detected early, it can often be managed through healthy lifestyle changes and, where needed, medication.
The City of Wolverhampton Council has made it even easier for people to know their numbers by offering free blood pressure checks through self service health monitors available without an appointment at WV Active Aldersley, WV Active Bilston-Bert Williams, WV Active Central, Central Library, Warstones Library, Bilston Library, Wednesfield Library and the Bob Jones Community Hub.
Residents can also borrow home blood pressure monitors for free from these sites to check their blood pressure more regularly over a 2 week period.
Alternatively, blood pressure checks are available through GP practices, and via NHS Health Checks for eligible adults aged 40 to 74, while 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, visit Find a pharmacy.
Councillor Obaida Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, said: “Knowing your blood pressure reading is one of the simplest things you can do to protect your health – and early detection allows people to make positive changes before serious health problems develop.
"It's thought that nearly 5 million people in the UK could be living with undiagnosed high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for stroke, heart attack, kidney disease and early death.
"We are delighted to be making it as easy as possible for people to get their blood pressure checked in local libraries, leisure centres and at home, as well as through pharmacies and GPs, 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, running from today to Sunday (7 to 13 September), is an annual campaign led by charity Blood Pressure UK.
