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Gogglebox
star supports Wirral Council's blood pressure testing day
WIRRAL Council are inviting people to
follow in the footsteps of Gogglebox's Viv Woerdenweber and have their blood
pressure checked for free at Birkenhead Market on Wednesday, 14 September 2016.
The day has been arranged to coincide with Know Your Numbers! week, the UK's
biggest blood pressure testing event, which this year runs between 12
September to 18
September 2016.
Nearly 50,000 adults in Wirral have been diagnosed with high blood pressure
(hypertension) and another 45,000 have it, but don't know it.
Having high blood pressure is a big problem; the heart has to work harder to
pump blood around the body which can weaken the heart over time. High blood
pressure also places a strain on the walls of arteries, making a blockage more
likely and also increases the risk of serious health problems such as heart
disease, stroke and kidney disease.
Viv Woerdenweber said:- "Know Your Numbers! week is a fantastic
initiative, helping to identify people living with undiagnosed high blood
pressure and raising awareness of this silent killer."
Fiona Johnstone, Director of Public Health, Wirral Council said:- "High
blood pressure isn't usually something that you can feel or notice but if you
have it you're more likely to have a heart attack or stroke, so it's important
it doesn't go undiagnosed."
Nurses from Public Health will be on stall P18, between 9am to 4pm, offering free
blood pressure checks and advice. The event is also supported by ABL Wirral, who
will be on hand to offer free support for anyone wishing to stop smoking. |
