Well Pharmacy is inviting people to #thebigsqueeze in conjunction with May Measure Month, and World Hypertension Day on May 17, by getting a free blood pressure check.
George Sandhu, Well Pharmacy Deputy Superintendent Pharmacist said “May Measurement Month is a global blood pressure screening awareness campaign. The aim is to raise awareness of the dangers posed by elevated BP and hypertension. May 17 is World Hypertension Day, and a perfect time to take control and get your blood pressure checked.
“We are delighted to be supporting this campaign. Hypertension (more commonly known as high blood pressure) can cause a range of health issues. Worryingly, it often comes with no symptoms, which is why it is vital to know if your blood pressure is higher people don’t have any symptoms of high blood pressure so having their blood pressure checked is the only way to find out. People can come into any of our Well Pharmacies across England and have their blood pressure checked. The theme for 2023 is Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer – and knowing your number is one of the most important things people can do.
He continued “We are urging people, particularly those with a family history, to come into our pharmacies across England in May as part of May Measure Month. Our pharmacy teams will be on hand to offer advice and information. Upon visiting, a pharmacist will measure the customers blood pressure in a private consultation room. If the reading is high, they may offer them an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) device to wear which could result in a referral to their GP. This automatically measures blood pressure at regular intervals over a 24-hour period, allowing for a more detailed view of what is happening.”
Blood pressure – what you need to know
· Many people don’t have any symptoms of high blood pressure.
· Having your blood pressure checked is the only way to find out what your reading is
· The NHS recommends that healthy adults who are over 40 should have a blood pressure check at least every 5 years. People who are at increased risk of high blood pressure should have checks once a year.
· Having a check in your local pharmacy is convenient and accessible. Our Well pharmacy teams in England have supported their local GP teams to raise awareness of high blood pressure by offering the service in their pharmacies and are able to advise on simple lifestyle changes to improve or maintain a healthy blood pressure.
How is blood pressure checked?
· Checking blood pressure is very easy and nothing to be alarmed about
· Blood pressure is checked with a device made of a cuff, which goes around your arm, a pump, which inflates the cuff to temporarily restrict circulation, and a dial or digital display to report your blood pressure.
· When your blood pressure is measured, it is written down as two numbers.
· The first (or top number) is the systolic, taken when the heart beats and forces blood through the arteries, and the second (or bottom figure) is the diastolic pressure, taken between heartbeats, or while your heart is at rest.
· Your Well pharmacist or doctor will be looking at both of those numbers when they decide what advice and/or treatment is needed to manage your blood pressure.
