Halton Borough Council’s Health Improvement Team will be at Marks and Spencer, Widnes, on Wednesday 3 July, offering free Blood Pressure checks to customers and staff.
The event is open from 10am to 4pm in the M&S Café.
Up to 13,000 people in Halton may have high blood pressure but don’t know. High blood pressure has no obvious symptoms but it is linked to at least 50% of all strokes and heart attacks and increases the risk of kidney disease and dementia.
A blood pressure check is quick, free, painless and could save your life. If detected, high blood pressure can be easily treated, thereby reducing your 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.I
The Health Improvement Team will also be offering BP checks and lifestyle advice to staff at the store during that day.
If you can’t come along to this event, many pharmacies in Runcorn and Widnes can offer BP checks in-store. For details of your local pharmacy check out the ‘Happy Hearts’ website: https://www.happy-hearts.co.uk/