Know your Numbers! Week: 7-13 September

Although 84% of people know that high blood pressure can lead to a heart attack and 79% are aware that it increases the risk of stroke, there are still some common misconceptions. Almost half (49%) mistakenly believe that high blood pressure has obvious symptoms. In reality, it often has no symptoms at all until a serious health problem occurs.

Awareness of the impact on kidney health is also low. Only 26% of people know that high blood pressure can damage the kidneys, even though it is one of the leading causes of kidney failure.

This is why Know Your Numbers! Week is so important. An estimated 4.2 million adults are living with undiagnosed high blood pressure, increasing their risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney disease, vascular dementia and premature death.

In a bid to raise awareness and reduce heart attacks, stroke and other serious health conditions, our Community Outreach Vaccination and Health team, together with our One Gloucestershire health and care partners, support the ‘Know Your Numbers’ campaign all year round – not just during Know Your Numbers! Week.

The team are currently visiting locations across Gloucestershire, offering people simple health checks, including blood pressure, and chatting to them about simple changes they can make to their lifestyle, such as stopping smoking, improving their diet or increasing exercise.

People can drop in for a free health and blood pressure check and a chat with members of the team about how to make positive changes to their health or wellbeing and get further support if needed.

Oonagh Wilson, Clinical Lead, Community Outreach Vaccination and Health Team at Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Know Your Numbers Week is a good opportunity to talk about the importance of being aware of your blood pressure. We all lead busy, often stressful, lives but taking some time to think about our health and wellbeing and understanding the importance of stats like blood pressure is key to preventing things like heart attacks and strokes.

“Our fantastic health team will be out and about in the community all week, offering simple health checks, including blood pressure, and chatting to people about simple changes they can make to their lifestyle, such as stopping smoking, improving their diet or increasing exercise.”

To find out more and where you can meet the team and access your free health and blood pressure check, visit: Community blood pressure and health checks > Glos Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust