PICTURE: Ryan Ince of Widnes Vikings gets his blood pressure checked by Alisha Graves, Halton Borough Council’s Health Check Officer.
Help to keep your heart happy! Halton Borough Council is offering FREE Blood Pressure Testing for local residents as part of Know Your Numbers! Week.
Halton Borough Council has joined with Widnes Vikings – who know all about pressure! – to urge its local residents to find out if their heart is happy and get their blood pressure checked for FREE as part of Know Your Numbers! Week.
The UK’s biggest free blood pressure testing event is held at ‘Pressure Stations’ around the country next week, from 10-16 September 2018.
More than thirteen thousand people in Halton are thought have high blood pressure and don’t know. High blood pressure has no obvious symptoms but it is linked to at least 50 per cent of all strokes and heart attacks and increases the risk of kidney disease and dementia.
Many pharmacies across Widnes and Runcorn will provide information and advice on simple steps to keep blood pressure under control and will measure your blood pressure accurately.
A blood pressure check is quick, free, painless and could save your life. You can also have a free blood pressure check in your GP surgery or use a home testing kit.
Halton Borough Council’s Health Improvement Team will be offering free blood pressure checks at:
Sessions at (first) RNCORN SHOPPING CITY (second) HALTON STADIUM, WIDNES
MONDAY 10 SEPT 1am to 3pm – 10am to 2pm
TUESDAY 11 SEPT 1am to 4pm – 1pm to 4pm
WEDNESDAY 12 SEPT 10am to 3pm – 10am to 2pm
THURSDAY 13 SEPT 10am to 3pm – 10am to 1pm
FRIDAY 14 SEPT 10am to 1pm – 10am to 1pm.
The Widnes Vikings are encouraging as many supporters to keep their hearts happy and come to the Stadium for a BP check during Know Your Numbers! Week.
This year, Blood Pressure UK is urging people to know their numbers and also asking them to encourage family members to get a check too. If detected high blood pressure can be easily treated, thereby reducing risk of stroke or heart disease.
Many key risk factors for developing high blood pressure are largely lifestyle-related such as eating too much salt, not enough fruit and vegetables, being overweight, drinking too much alcohol and not taking enough exercise. High blood pressure is also more likely as you get older, if it runs in your family and if you are of African, Caribbean or South-Asian descent.
You can lower your blood pressure and help to keep your heart happy with lifestyle changes and if necessary by taking medication as directed by your doctor.
Cllr Marie Wright, portfolio holder for health and wellbeing at Halton Borough Council, said: “The message to people is to get your blood pressure checked and help to keep your heart happy.
“High blood pressure is a largely preventable and treatable condition but contributes to the leading causes of death. Having your blood pressure checked is an important step to knowing and reducing your risk of stroke, heart attack or heart failure.”
Hemini Bharadia, Know Your Numbers! Week Campaign Manager, Blood Pressure UK said: “Know Your Numbers! Week is the perfect opportunity to have your blood pressure taken for free and put you in control of your health. Make sure to spread the message to the rest of your family too, as high blood pressure does not discriminate by age or gender.”