RESIDENTS of are being urged to get their blood pressure tested for FREE as part of Know Your Numbers! Week – the UK’s biggest free blood pressure testing event held at ‘Pressure Stations’ including East Lindsey’s Magna Vitae sites from 9-15th September 2019.
This year’s theme: ‘Living well for longer’ – encourages people to have their blood pressure measured so they can take the necessary steps to maintain a healthy blood pressure and reduce their risk of debilitating strokes and heart attacks. With many of us living well into our 70s, 80s and 90s and with so much life to look forward to, these years need to be healthy and happy for everyone, free from disease and disability.
Staff at Magna Vitae, East Lindsey’s premier providers of leisure, fitness and health centres, will provide information and advice on keeping blood pressure under control and measure people’s blood pressure accurately.
Known as the silent killer as there are no symptoms, high blood pressure is THE biggest single cause of death in the UK which is WHY it’s important that people have their blood pressure checked. If it is high, a healthcare professional can advise on the necessary lifestyle changes to help manage it.
With unhealthy lifestyles and poor diet contributing to more young people in their 30s, 40s and 50s being diagnosed with hypertension, around 1 in 3 people in the UK are now living with high blood pressure – with 6.5 million[1] people still remaining undiagnosed.
Key risk factors for developing high blood pressure are eating too much salt, not enough fruit and vegetables, being overweight and not enough exercise.
Marko Humphrey, Magna Vitae’s specialist Nutrition Consultant, said: “Most people with high blood pressure have no signs or symptoms, even if blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels. Fortunately though, it can be easily detected and once you know you have high blood pressure, you can work with your doctor to control it – so make sure you visit one of our centres during awareness week and get your blood pressure checked.
Hemini Bharadia, Know Your Numbers! Week Campaign Manager says: “Hypertension typically develops over the course of several years and usually you don’t notice any symptoms. But even without symptoms, high blood pressure can cause damage to your blood vessels and organs, especially the brain, heart, eyes, and kidneys which is why early detection is important. Know Your Numbers! Week is the perfect opportunity to have your blood pressure taken for free, put you in control of your health and live well for longer.”
The Magna Vitae Trust for Leisure and Culture is offering free blood pressure checks at:
Monday 9th September 10am-12pm Skegness Fitness Suite
Tuesday 10th September 10:30am-12:30pm at Horncastle Fitness Suite
Wednesday 11th September 10am-12pm at Station sports in Mablethorpe
Wednesday 11th September 2pm-4pm at Meridian Leisure centre, Louth.
Thursday 12th September 10am-12pm at Barratt Court, Skegness (Waterloo housing)
For further information on Blood Pressure UK and Know Your Numbers! Week, go to:
http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/microsites/kyn/Home/AboutKYN/KYN2019
To find your nearest check visit
http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/microsites/kyn/Home/Freebpchecks/Findfreecheck
[1] Using the 16 million figure from PHE for England this has been extrapolated to give a figure of 19 million for the UK.