Do you need prescription medication? Ask Your Dr for confidential and convenient access to certain medications. Enter your postcode to find your nearest pharmacy that can help.Know your numbers when it comes to blood pressure
Earlier this month the BPA's (Blood Pressure Association) ëKnow Your Numbers!' campaign rolled through 1400 venues across the UK (including the GMTV studios). With a third of adults (16 million people) estimated to have high blood pressure, the campaign did a sterling job of spreading awareness on the issue.
Making people aware of the risk of high blood pressure is particularly important because it doesn't cause any immediate symptoms. However, if left undiagnosed it can lead to heart problems, strokes and kidney failure. In fact, it's estimated 40% of strokes could be avoided if people had regular blood pressure checks.(1)
Whilst the BPA's campaign has finished, the battle to get people regularly checked and encouraged to live a healthier lifestyle goes on. Thankfully, pharmacies can play a key role in providing this service to their community.
People can now pop into their community pharmacy throughout the day to get a free blood pressure check. Using a digital blood pressure monitor, pharmacists can quickly gauge how well blood is being pumped through your arteries, and then they can offer advice on whether you need to make lifestyle changes to bring your blood pressure down. If it's particularly high then the pharmacist will advise you to visit your GP.
Every adult should get their blood pressure checked every five years, unless it's particularly high in which case you should get it checked yearly. Thanks to the provision of free tests in pharmacies, it's never been easier for you to find out whether you're the one in three that needs to start making the changes needed to bring your blood pressure down so you can live a longer, healthier life.
(1) http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/09/21/am-calls-for-blo...
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