People in the North East and Yorkshire aged 40 and over who don’t have a diagnosis of high blood pressure are reminded they can get their readings checked at their NHS community pharmacy.

It’s important to know your numbers, says Dr Faisel Baig, Medical Director for Primary Care, NHS North East and Yorkshire, because if your blood pressure is too high it puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs, such as the brain, kidneys and eyes.

“Early detection of high blood pressure is vital and community pharmacies have a key role in the detection and treatment of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease (CVD), helping to improve patients’ health whilst also supporting general practice teams,” Dr Baig (pictured) said.

“Persistent high blood pressure can increase your risk of a number of serious and potentially life-threatening health conditions such as heart disease, strokes and kidney disease,” he explained.

CVD is one of the leading causes of premature death in England. High blood pressure, also referred to as hypertension, creates the biggest risk for CVD and an estimated 5.5 million people in England have undiagnosed hypertension.

The NHS community pharmacy blood pressure check service is available for people aged 40 and over who don’t currently have a diagnosis of high blood pressure.

Dr Baig, who is also a GP in North Lincolnshire, explained: “The blood pressure check will be carried out by a pharmacist or pharmacy technician trained to use blood pressure monitoring equipment in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. The results will be sent to the patient’s GP practice to confirm the diagnosis and for appropriate treatment, if necessary.

“Remember, it’s important to know your blood pressure because if you’ve got undiagnosed high blood pressure it puts you at risk of heart disease and stroke. People can walk in to their NHS pharmacy to request a blood pressure test, or they can make an appointment. It’s completely free and you don’t need to see a GP in advance.”

All adults over 40 years old are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every five years, and with more than 1,700 pharmacies across our region it’s quick and easy to get yours checked.