Congleton Town Council is taking part in Know Your Numbers! Week. The UK’s biggest blood pressure testing and awareness event. This year’s campaign takes place from 4-10 September 2023 with the focus on home blood pressure monitoring.
High blood pressure can lead to heart attacks, strokes and other diseases but it usually has no symptoms, which is why it’s so important to get a check and ‘Know your Numbers’. The town council is encouraging its own staff and councillors to get checked during the week. Passers by can pop into the Town Hall on Tuesday 5 September from 12pm-2pm to get their blood pressure measured by a qualified nurse.
Congleton Town Mayor, Cllr Rob Moreton said: “I’ll definitely be coming along for a free check and will be urging my friends and family to do the same. The campaign has opened my eyes to the importance of home testing. For anyone thinking of investing in a kit, there are lots of good quality models available from most well known retailers. A small price to pay for something that could save a life. It’s an alarming fact that around a third of people in the UK have high blood pressure, but most don’t know it.”
Rob continues: “It’s never too early or late to start checking your blood pressure. Knowing your numbers means you can start making healthy lifestyle changes or start taking medicines if you need them to bring your blood pressure down to a healthy level. Home monitoring is an effective and inexpensive way to keep blood pressure under control and the evidence behind it continues to get stronger. It offers a way for people to take control of their own health and ease the pressure on the NHS at the same time.”
A number of Congleton pharmacies are participating in the campaign. They are offering FREE walk in checks for people aged over 40 not currently on high blood pressure medication:
- Mossley Pharmacy, Biddulph Road
- Boots Pharmacy, Barn Road
- Superdrug, High Street
- Lloyds Pharmacy, West Street
- Well Pharmacy, Park Lane
- West Heath Pharmacy, West Heath Shopping Centre
Congleton Leisure Centre are inviting people to the facility to check their blood pressure on a self-screening machine. The opportunity is available to everyone not just members between 4-10 September. No need to book just turn up (over 18 years and above only). Everybody Leisure will also be providing information on why blood pressure is important to check, what the numbers mean and how exercise can help reduce and maintain blood pressure.
For further information and advice on how to lower your blood pressure visit: www.bloodpressureuk.org
