A series of ads will feature across a range of social media platforms this week as the NHS in the South East of England backs the national ‘Know Your Numbers’ campaign.
Known as one of the UK’s biggest blood pressure testing and awareness events, the campaign takes place every year and is led by charity Blood Pressure UK.
The regions’ clinical networks team is giving an extra push to the campaign and draw attention to high blood pressure with targeted messages on Facebook and Google advertising (as well as its own organic channels.)
The charity’s theme for this year’s campaign, which runs from 5-11 September 2022, is to Measure, Modify and Manage.
- Measure your blood pressure to see if it’s under control
- Modify your lifestyle
- Manage your blood pressure and your health to beat ‘the silent killer’
Building on the success of its very own hypertension (blood pressure) awareness campaign recently, NHS clinicians and staff across the region are backing this week’s national campaign by encouraging residents, especially those over the age of 40, to get to know their numbers. In doing so, you can help identify, prevent or treat high blood pressure which can be consequential if left untreated.
Dr Shahed Ahmad, NHS England’s Clinical Director for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Medical Director for NHS England in the South East, said: “High blood pressure, which rarely has noticeable symptoms, increases your risk of heart attack or stroke if left untreated, which is why knowing your numbers could save your life.
“The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure tested which you can easily do at several places.
“NHS pharmacies across the South East provide the lifesaving checks to anyone aged 40 or over. Equally, you can get your blood pressure checked at an NHS Health Check appointment offered to adults in England aged 40-74, at home using a home blood pressure monitor or at your local GP surgery.
He added: “If you are 40 and over, the recommendation is that you have your blood pressure tested at least every five years so that any potential problems can be detected early.
“If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, then it’s important to have your blood pressure tested more regularly, at least once a year.”
Around one third of adults in the UK have high blood pressure and around 8 million people in England have diagnosed high blood pressure.
An ideal blood pressure is under 120/80mmHg.
