‘Get your blood pressure checked’ is the message to people in the North East and Yorkshire for Know Your Numbers! Week (8 to 14 September). 

According to charity Blood Pressure UK more than four in 10 UK adults don’t know their blood pressure reading, and a third don’t check it regularly, putting them at risk of serious illnesses including heart attack, stroke or kidney disease.

Dr Rani Khatib, National Specialty Advisor for Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Prevention at NHS England, said: 

“High blood pressure is known as the silent killer – there are often no symptoms. If your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your heart and blood vessels. This is called high blood pressure, or hypertension. Over time, it can lead to health problems including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, dementia and vision loss.” 

Dr Khatib said the only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have a blood pressure check.  

“You can have your blood pressure checked at your GP surgery, in some pharmacies, in some work places or as part of an NHS health check,” he added. “You can also measure your blood pressure at home using an approved home monitor. All adults should have their blood pressure checked and ‘know their numbers’.” 

A blood pressure reading is written as two numbers, a top number and a bottom number. For example, a reading of 120/80 means your blood pressure is 120 over 80. Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) using a simple machine. 

Dr James Crick, NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB’s Clinical Director for East Riding and Hull, said there are lots of things you can do if your blood pressure is high. 

“There are several steps you can take to manage it through lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet, reducing salt, exercising regularly, achieving a healthy weight, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol,” Dr Crick (pictured) said.  

“In some cases, you may be prescribed medication to help control your blood pressure. It’s important to take it as directed and keep up with regular check-ups. High stress levels can contribute to high blood pressure. Techniques like deep breathing, meditation and yoga can help you to relax and keep your blood pressure in check.”  

Free blood pressure checks are widely available in pharmacies across the region. To find your local pharmacy visit Find a pharmacy – NHS  

Regional initiatives

Health, local authority and partner organisations across the North East and Yorkshire are collaborating to make it even easier for people to get their blood pressure checked. 

As part of its commitment to helping people live longer, healthier lives, North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) has been delivering two regional projects. These include blood pressure screening initiatives focused on identifying people with hypertension and cardio vascular disease (CVD) in local community settings, making it easier and more accessible for people to take that crucial step towards better heart health.  

Since last September, as part of a 12-month pilot, six community centres in areas of high deprivation across Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and North Tyneside have offered blood pressure checks through blood pressure kiosks. These are supported by trained blood pressure champions who raise awareness of  CVD and provide signposting and advice. More than 1,000 checks have been completed since the start of the pilot. The kiosks can be found at 

• North Tyneside – Wallsend Community Hub and North Shields Community Hub,  

• Hartlepool – Community Hub Central and Community Hub South,  

• Middlesbrough – Newport Community Hub and The LiveWell Centre.  

The ICB is also working in partnership with Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria to deliver the Healthy Heart Checks project, which aims to reduce CVD across the region. The project focuses on improving access in areas of deprivation, underserved communities and trusted community spaces. It includes blood pressure screening and wider CVD risk factor assessments, with over 1,300 checks carried out since November last year. The project continues until September 2026.  

In Humber and North Yorkshire, since last October as part of a 12-month pilot, 13 dental practices have offered blood pressure checks to patients attending their appointments. More than 1,000 interactions including checks, home-monitoring and GP follow-up appointments have resulted.

More than 60 opticians in Humber and North Yorkshire are offering blood pressure checks as part of patients’ eye test assessments through a pilot programme funded by the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and NHS England. Nearly half of patients tested reported they would not have had their blood pressure checked otherwise, managers say.  

Between 9 and 11 September, South Yorkshire is holding a number of walk-in clinics across Doncaster and Sheffield for free blood pressure checks. Further information can be found at Know Your Numbers :: South Yorkshire I.C.B 

Find out more about keeping your blood pressure under control and the simple steps you can take to lower it to benefit your health at Blood Pressure UK.