Residents from South Manchester are being urged by their local MP, Jeff Smith, to make time for their health by taking part in Blood Pressure UK’s ‘Know Your Number! Week’.
A survey from the charity Blood Pressure UK has 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, yet just a couple of minutes spent thinking about health could save their life.
The independent survey of over 1000 Britons also showed that out of those people who hadn’t had their blood pressure taken in the last year, 25% don’t even consider it as a health issue. It also revealed if they had a few extra minutes of time in their day, rather than undertaking a potentially life-saving blood pressure check (11.6%), top of their list of things to do would be to make a cup of tea (44%)!
The Know Your Numbers! campaign is the UK’s biggest blood pressure testing event and this, its fourteenth, year aims 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: “We wanted to find out what people were spending their time doing rather than spending time thinking about their health and checking their blood pressure. This year we are urging everyone to make every second count – it’s quick, free, painless, and could save your life.
“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.
Jeff Smith, MP for Manchester Withington, said: “I am supporting Blood Pressure UK’s Know Your Numbers Week from 14th – 20th September because in the time it takes to boil a kettle you could have taken a blood pressure test. It’s so simple and something that could save the lives of people in my constituency”
For further information on Blood Pressure UK and Know Your Numbers! Week, go to:
www.bloodpressureuk.org/microsites/kyn/Home/AboutKYN
To find your nearest check visit:
http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/microsites/kyn/Home/Freebpchecks/Findfreecheck
JEFF SMITH MP 