Free blood pressure checks

UK charity the Blood Pressure Association is warning residents that ‘Ignorance isn’t always bliss’ as it urges everyone to get their free blood pressure check during this year’s Know your Numbers! Week (12-18 September).

Know your Numbers! Week is the nation's biggest blood pressure testing event.

Health professionals across the Borough are taking part in the event and will be offering free blood pressure checks at a variety of convenient venues or ‘Pressure Stations’ in the area (see list below).

During last year’s Know your Numbers! Week 81 percent of people tested in Lancashire didn't know their blood pressure numbers and 32 percent had high blood pressure readings.

Over 1,500 Pressure Stations are being held nationwide, with venues in high street and supermarket pharmacies, shopping centres, markets, sports centres and other popular community venues.

A shocking 1 in 3 adults has high blood pressure and a third of them have no idea as it has no symptoms. That’s around 5 million people whose lives are actually at risk because they don’t know their numbers.

High blood pressure nearly always has no symptoms and for many people is ‘out of sight and out of mind’, but its effects can be devastating. It is the UK ’s biggest silent killer, being responsible for 60% of strokes and 40% of heart attacks. If it is detected though, it can be successfully managed.

Adults should know their blood pressure numbers in the same way they know their height and weight and the only way to find out what they are is to have a blood pressure check. Free checks will be available to all adults.

A quick, painless test can mean the difference between life and death or serious disability.

Pressure Stations in Rochdale:

• ASDA Pharmacy, ASDA Rochdale, The Old Cricket Ground, Dane Street, Rochdale, OL12 6XT
• Cohens Chemist, 242 Yorkshire Street, Rochdale, OL16 2DP
• Cohens Chemist, Nye Bevan House, Dowling Street, Rochdale, OL11 1HR
• Cohens Chemist, 69 Milkstone Road, Rochdale, OL11 1NT
• Oldham Road Pharmacy, 497 Oldham Road, Rochdale, OL16 4TF
• Cohens Chemist, 11 Stevenson Square, Smallbridge, Rochdale, OL12 9SA

Paul Newman, Chief Executive of the Blood Pressure Association, says: “We are delighted so many organisations are taking part in Know your Numbers! Week 2011. Everyone that takes part helps to emphasise the importance of knowing your blood pressure numbers and by offering the free checks could really be saving lives.

“During this year’s campaign, we’re stressing the fact that ‘Ignorance isn’t always bliss’. High blood pressure is a dangerous condition when not managed and we hope everyone will take advantage of the free blood pressure checks to lower their risk of stroke and heart attack.”