Know Your Numbers Week 2020
Know Your Numbers Week 2020 runs from Monday 7th to Sunday 13th September. Blood Pressure UK is the UK’s leading charity working to lower the nation’s blood pressure to prevent disability and death from stroke and heart disease.
Around a third of people in the UK have high blood pressure, but most don’t know it. Despite this it remains the biggest single cause of death in the UK. It doesn’t have any symptoms so, the only way to find out is to have a blood pressure check. Untreated high pressure is the major risk factor for strokes, heart attacks and heart failure. It is also a major risk factor for kidney disease and dementia.
Due to social distancing measures One You Merton are unable to provide Pressure Stations for free blood pressure checks this year.
However, home monitoring offers a way for YOU to take control of your health, feel confident, and take the pressure off the NHS at the same time. It gives you a practical way to Know Your Numbers! without visiting your GP or pharmacist, and it really can save lives.
Visit Blood Pressure UK’s online measuring your blood at home resources hub to download our range of home blood pressure monitoring resources.
Top five tips for a healthy blood pressure
1. Cut down on salt – Reducing your salt intake it the quickest way to lower your blood pressure. Don’t add it when cooking or at the table, avoid using stock cubes, gravy and soy sauce, check food labels and avoid processed foods high in salt – aim to eat less than 6g a day. Search for healthy recipes on our Eat Well page.
2. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables – at least five different portions every day. Find out what counts for your five a day.
3. Watch your weight – try to reach the right weight for your height. You can get help to get active and lose weight by using an app from our Apps and Tools page
4. Exercise regularly – that doesn’t have to mean the gym, how about a regular lunchtime walk? 30 minutes five times a week is ideal. If you are unsure about taking up exercise, ask your GP. Find ways to Be Active.
5. Drink alcohol in moderation – up to 14 units a week for both men and women – a glass of wine or a pint of beer is 2-3 units. Learn more about units and calories in alcohol or our Drink Less page.
Unhealthy lifestyles and poor diet are contributing to more young people in their 30s, 40s and 50s being diagnosed with hypertension, around 1 in 3 people in the UK are now living with high blood pressure – with 6.5 million people still remaining undiagnosed.
If you would like local support in making changes to your lifestyle to eat more healthily, be more active, reduce alcohol consumption or stop smoking you can register from free on our Register Now page, call us on 020 8973 3545 or e-mail us at oneyou.merton@nhs.net
Source: Blood Pressure UK
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