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Know your (blood pressure)
numbers
MORE than 50,000 people in Liverpool do
not realise they have high blood pressure; and now a new campaign is urging
local residents to get it checked.
High blood pressure is second only to smoking as the highest risk factor in
causing premature death and disability, and is the most common long term health
condition.
Around 15% of people in Liverpool have been diagnosed with high blood pressure,
68,214; but it is believed 25% of the population has the condition, meaning
there are another 52,645 residents unaware they are at risk. Know Your Numbers
is a national campaign which runs until 18 September 2016 and
aims to encourage people to get their blood pressure checked.
Director of Public Health in Liverpool, Dr Sandra Davies, said:- "High
blood pressure is a silent killer and many people just do not know that they are
at risk. It can be a ticking time bomb and lead to conditions such as a stroke
or heart disease, but the good news is that it can easily be treated by
improving diet, losing weight or taking exercise. All we're asking people to do
is pop into a number of selected Pharmacies across the City who will take their
blood pressure free of charge and get some advice about how to stay healthy."
A list of local pharmacies can be found
online.
People wanting to improve their health can join the Fit for Me campaign being
run by NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group and Liverpool City Council. It
aims to inspire and get everyone more active in Liverpool by doing as little as
10 minutes more activity, getting off the bus a stop earlier or simply taking
the stairs instead of the lift.
Join in with free local activities, special offers and motivational support at:-
FitForMe.Info, like it on
Facebook, follow on
Twitter @FitforMeLpool or access the Fit for Me quiz
online. |
