Check your blood pressure Posted or Updated on 17 Sep 2024

Reduce your risk - get your blood pressure checked on know your numbers week:

September 2nd – 8th is national know your numbers week. Know your numbers week is a campaign to get people to check their blood pressure.

It is estimated around one in three people in the South West are living with high blood pressure and without regular testing this can go unnoticed, sometimes leading to serious health issues including stroke and heart attack. High blood pressure rarely has noticeable symptoms. The only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked. Getting this done is easy and could save your life.  

We think this week is a great opportunity to remind you all to get your blood pressure checked! You can pop into the Grove or the Apples medical centres to check your blood pressure on the machine in the waiting room, visit one of our community pharmacies to get a reading or take a test at home using an easy-to-use monitor.

What is a blood pressure test?

A blood pressure test checks if your blood pressure is healthy, or if it's high or low. Blood pressure is the term used to describe the strength with which your blood pushes on the sides of your arteries as it's pumped around your body.

Blood pressure is recorded with 2 numbers:

• The systolic pressure (higher number) is the force at which your heart pumps blood around your body.
• The diastolic pressure (lower number) is the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels. They're both measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).

As a general guide:

High blood pressure is considered to be 140/90mmHg or higher (or 150/90mmHg or higher if you're over 80)

Ideal blood pressure is usually considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg

Blood pressure readings between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg could mean you're at risk of developing high blood pressure if you do not take steps to keep your blood pressure under control.

Low blood pressure (hypotension) is not usually a problem, although it can cause dizziness and fainting in some people. High blood pressure (hypertension) can increase your risk of developing serious problems, such as heart attacks and strokes, if it's not treated. Having a quick blood pressure test is the only way to find out what your blood pressure is – and it could save your life.

Coming up:

The Sherborne PCN are planning a health talk about ‘How to avoid high blood pressure’. Please look out for details on Facebook and practice websites.