Local PCT supports nation's biggest blood pressure testing event

Heywood Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust (PCT) is helping residents to discover if they are at risk of the ‘silent killer’ by offering free blood pressure checks during the Blood Pressure Association’s Know Your Numbers! Week, which runs from Monday 10 to Sunday 16 September.

Morrisons Heywood, Tesco Rochdale amp; Morrisons Rochdale are among thousands of venues acting as ‘Pressure Stations’ during Know Your Numbers! Week, the nation’s biggest blood pressure testing and awareness event run by UK charity the Blood Pressure Association (BPA).

16 million adults in the UK have high blood pressure, which, uncontrolled and undetected, is the biggest cause of death and disability through stroke, heart attack and heart disease. Yet 5.3 million don’t know they have this ‘silent killer’ because there are no symptoms. In a bid to encourage more people to have a blood pressure check, the BPA has themed this year’s event ‘Finding the Missing Millions’.

Cardiac Specialist Nurse, Jill Ridley said: “The health of our community is very important to us, which is why we are inviting local people to come and have a blood pressure check during the Blood Pressure Association’s Know your Numbers! Week. It’s quick, free and painless and could save your life.”

Sue Massey, the Blood Pressure Association’s Head of Communications, said: “We are delighted Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT is joining forces with the BPA to raise awareness about this important health issue.

“Millions of people in the UK are unaware that they have high blood pressure and could be putting their lives at risk. High blood pressure can be treated and often prevented, but the first step is to ‘know your numbers’ by having a blood pressure check.”

To find out more about high blood pressure or for a free information pack on the condition, visit the BPA website:

www.bpassoc.org.uk

or call 020 8772 4994.

Heywood Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust will be offering free blood pressure checks at:

• Morrisons Superstore, Heywood: 10 September 11.00am – 1.00pm
• Tesco Superstore, Silk Street, Rochdale: 11 amp; 12 September 11.00am– 1.00pm
• Morrisons Superstore, Kingsway, Rochdale: 13 September 10.00am – 12.00noon amp; 14 September 2.00pm – 4.00pm