How much do you know about your blood pressure?
High blood pressure, also known as Hypertension, often has no symptoms. In fact the first sign you have it could be something as serious as a heart attack or 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. That's why we are encouraging you to 'Know Your Numbers' so that you know where you stand and you can take action if you need to.
We are urging local people to Measure, Modify and Manage.
- Measure your blood pressure to see if it’s under control.
- Modify your lifestyle if necessary.
- Manage your blood pressure and your health to beat ‘the silent killer’.
Hear from the experts by watching a recording of a public information session we held. Click here for more information and to view the session.
You can measure your blood pressure with a home monitoring machine or by visiting your local community pharmacy or by a practice nurse at your GP surgery. Taking just five minutes to measure your blood pressure could save your life. Find out more about home blood pressure monitoring by watching a short video via the link at the bottom of the page.
We hope this page helps you understand why it's so important you Know Your Numbers and have also compiled a booklet you can download and share HERE.
Know the risks
If your blood pressure is too high, it can do massive damage. It narrows the blood vessels and this means serious risks!
There are certain things in our lives that can increase our risk of having high blood pressure including whether we smoke, our family history, other long term conditions such as Diabetes and in some cases ethnic background. If you are South Asian, African or African Caribbean in the UK, your risk of developing some heart and circulatory diseases can be higher.
So how do I take my blood pressure?
If you decide to take your blood pressure at home there are a few things to remember so take a look at our video HERE.
You may also find our poster useful. Click on the image on the left to download it.
You can even take this heart health quiz to check your heart health and see what your risk factor might be.
Where else can I check my blood pressure?
Many GP practices now have blood pressure machines in their reception/waiting areas.
If yours does, you can see how to use it by watching the video on the left. If it doesn't load, click here to watch it.
The British Heart Foundation has reliable and comprehensive information on risk factors and how many of them can be controlled or modified. If you are interested to know more, click here.
For general information on high blood pressure from the British Heart Foundation, click here.
How can local community pharmacies help?
Some community pharmacies across England offer an NHS blood pressure check service to people over 40, as an easy and convenient way for you to get your blood pressure checked.
If you are found to have a confirmed high blood pressure reading, the pharmacist can follow up with further monitoring, over a 24-hour period, and urgently refer you for further treatment if it should be needed.
Your blood pressure readings are sent to your GP from the community pharmacy, so your records can be updated and appropriate action taken.
There is a national website which helps you find your closest pharmacy offering this service. Click here to see where your is.
What do my readings tell me?
If your blood pressure readings, from any setting, are consistently above 140/90mmHg you may have high blood pressure and should contact your GP practice for a review. High blood pressure can be treated by making a few lifestyle changes and you may be prescribed medication.
You can also enter your blood pressure reading onto a special NHS webpage to get more information and advice. Click here to go to the page.
What can I do to make a change?
There are some simple changes you can make to improve your blood pressure - see the image below, but one of the most effective is to watch your salt intake.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) warns much salt is hidden in food and then we may be adding more. To understand more about hidden salt and the amounts we should be consuming click here to read the BHF recently released report click here.
Hear how one GP practice in the area is making a change and helping recognise and manage high blood pressure in their patients
Dr Bharan Kumar, local Slough GP and Clinical Director of the Shape Primary Care Network, is joined by the practice Metabolic Clinical Pharmacist and a patient to explain how they are making a difference to local people. By changing they way they have been working, the practice team are recognising those patients with high blood pressure and supporting them more effectively. You can view the video here.
Below you can find more stories from local people and further useful information.
Kaylee's story |
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If this page makes a difference to you, please share your story at frimleyicb.insights@nhs.net
If you are keen to make a change there is plenty of support out there for you. The Better Heath website gives great tips on healthy diet and ways you can move more. It can also help you if you are looking to drink less.
Our dedicated Quit Smoking pages will tell what services are available to you locally to help you quit.
The Every Mind Matters website has lots of advice, hints and tips on how you can better look after your mental health, de-stress and improve your sleep patterns. Take the Mind Plan quiz to find out more.
As a guide, if your blood pressure is in the healthy range (129/84mmHg or less) it is recommend you get your blood pressure checked at least every 5 years.
If your blood pressure is on the higher side of normal (between 130/85mmHg and 139/89mmHg) it is recommended that you make lifestyle changes such as those we have suggested above and recheck within a year.
If your blood pressure is high or very high you should follow clinical advice on how often to monitor your blood pressure.
We encourage people to check their blood pressure at home for a more accurate reading. It is often more reliable than getting it checked at a hospital clinic or at your GP practice, as people tend to be more relaxed in their own surroundings. If you need help to know how to do this accurately you can watch our video below:
Buying a blood pressure monitor
To measure your blood pressure at home, you will need a home blood pressure monitor. You can buy a blood pressure monitor for as little as £10. If you are buying a blood pressure monitor, make sure it is approved for use in the UK.
To make sure your monitor is accurate, choose one that is accredited (usually stated on the BP machine box) or choose one that has been listed as validated for accuracy by the British Hypertension Society. This means that the digital monitor has gone through a series of tests to make sure it provides reliable results.
We hope that you have found the information on this page useful but if you want to know more the links below take you to more trusted sources of information.
The Blood Pressure UK website tells you all you need to know to support you to understand and manage you blood pressure. Their popular magazine Positive Pressure, can be found HERE.
The British Heart Foundation website provides essential tips to monitor and reduce your blood pressure alongside other useful information to keep your heart in good health.
For more information on how high blood pressure can contribute to a Stroke, or for those who are looking for Stroke information and support visit the Stroke Association website.
Remember if you would like to purchase your own monitor the British and Irish Hypertension Society has all the information to help you. Visit www.bihsoc.org/bp-monitors.
Click HERE or on picture to see leaflet.
This leaflet helps you understand what happens when your blood pressure is taken.
Click HERE or on picture to see leaflet about risks and lifestyle.
This leaflet explains why its important to have a blood pressure reading taken and simple lifestyle changes which can help you if you have raised blood pressure.
Click here or on the picture to view of a copy of the Hindi leaflet.
Click on the video or on this link to watch a video in Punjabi of Dr Kesar Singh Sadhra from Manor Park Medical Centre, Slough, explaining how to take your blood pressure.