Give your heart some love this Valentine’s Day with a free blood pressure test

Local leisure centres, pharmacies and football clubs are working in partnership to deliver free blood pressure tests in local communities for people across Lancashire and South Cumbria.

More than 2,000 people so far have benefitted from free blood pressure tests in the community.

Your blood pressure is more than just numbers. Knowing what your numbers mean is really important to reduce the risk of heart attack, kidney disease and stroke.

High blood pressure is one of the most common conditions in this country - more than one in four adults in the UK have the condition. If untreated, it increases your risk of developing serious health problems such as heart attacks and strokes.

The British Heart Foundation is supporting blood pressure tests in local communities up to 2021 as part of a partnership with NHS, local authorities, charities, universities and community organisations to help identify people who are at risk of heart attack, kidney disease and stroke much earlier.

These blood pressure checks are being carried out by partners from seven football club trusts from across Lancashire along with a number of leisure centres and pharmacies, who together have already tested over 2,000 people since June 2019.

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Director for Public Health and Wellbeing for Lancashire County Council, said:

“It’s brilliant that community organisations, football clubs, pharmacies and leisure centres are working together to give people across Lancashire and South Cumbria easier access to blood pressure checks beyond GP surgeries. In a number of cases we know that these have had a huge impact for the individual and potentially saved their life.

Heart attack and stroke are common causes of death and disability across Lancashire and South Cumbria. But many heart attacks and strokes could be prevented.

Lifestyle factors can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, as can high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. There are simple steps you can take to live well and to identify issues early to reduce your risk and keep your heart happy such as getting your blood pressure checked.

I would encourage anyone that doesn’t ‘know their numbers’ to go and get their blood pressure checked today.”

Jacob West, Director of Healthcare Innovation for British Heart Foundation (BHF), said:

“Millions of people in the UK are living with high blood pressure and don't know it, leaving them at increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The BHF is delighted to be supporting people in Lancashire and South Cumbria to access blood pressure checks in a way that's convenient and easy.”

For more information visit the Healthy Hearts website and find out where you can get your blood pressure checked in your local area.