High blood pressure often has no symptoms. If it isn’t found and treated, it can cause serious heart and circulatory illnesses such as heart attacks, strokes and kidney damage.
Understanding your blood pressure and knowing your numbers is essential for helping to keep your heart healthy. Allan, 75, from Southend-on-Sea, knows how important a quick, simple blood pressure check can be.
In September 2024, Allan visited his local pharmacy to buy some cold and flu medicine as he felt unwell. These were his only symptoms. He told us: “While I was at the pharmacy, the assistant asked if I wanted to see the pharmacist as she thought I sounded ‘throaty’. The pharmacist gave me a quick check up and took my blood pressure. He told me to get to A&E immediately as my blood pressure reading was over 200.”
Allan’s son took him immediately to the nearest A&E department where he spent over two days in Southend Hospital where he was told he had high blood pressure. He continued: “I had several MRI scans, spoke to various doctors and was attached to different machines while I was there. I was also put on some blood pressure medicine. After leaving hospital, I had to provide a week’s worth of blood pressure readings. My medicine dose was increased after I sent these readings to my GP practice.
“When I was first told I had high blood pressure, I felt rather vulnerable. However, taking my prescribed medicine every day helps reassure me that I’m managing my blood pressure. It’s important to always take medicine as advised and to see your GP if you’re unsure.”
GPs or practice pharmacists can offer medication reviews if you don’t think the medicine you’re taking is working effectively or you’re having problems with side effects. Community pharmacists can also offer advice if you’ve been prescribed a new medicine. This is available for certain medicines for conditions including high blood pressure (hypertension) through the New Medicines Service.
For Allan, being able to have a quick blood pressure check at his local pharmacy (available to anyone over 40 years old) has made a big difference to his health.
“The blood pressure test at the pharmacy might have saved my life,” says Allan. “Normally, I would have said not to worry when they asked if I wanted to see the pharmacist, but something made me say yes. I am grateful for the pharmacy staff and all the other medical staff who have helped me.”
Visiting a local pharmacy is just one way that you can get a free blood pressure check. This test is also offered as part of an NHS Health Check to adults between 40 to 74 years old without a pre-existing condition. Other community options include using a GP Surgery Pod at a GP practice (available in some receptions), through the Essex County Council blood pressure monitor library loan scheme or using a blood pressure monitor at home.
For more information about blood pressure and your health, speak to your pharmacist or GP.