With around 4,500 people and their families suffering the devastating impacts of heart attacks and strokes each year, NHS Mid and South Essex is encouraging residents to get their blood pressure checked this Know Your Numbers Week.
Community pharmacies across Essex now offer free blood pressure checks for those aged 40+. It’s a simple, quick test that could help you stay well and even prevent serious health issues down the line.
Nearly 88,000 people in mid and south Essex are living with undiagnosed high blood pressure (hypertension). This ‘silent killer’ often has no symptoms, allowing it to go undetected, which can lead to serious health issues including heart attacks, strokes and kidney damage.
Every month, thousands of blood pressure checks are taken in pharmacies across mid and south Essex, which provide convenient access to this potentially life-saving health check. In May, pharmacies recorded 3,587 blood pressure checks for people aged 40 and over.
At Audley Mills Pharmacy, we’re witnessing first-hand how this new service is transforming lives. Every month, we deliver around 75 blood pressure checks, uncovering cases where people had no idea they were at risk of hypertension.
By offering these checks in a convenient community setting, we’re removing barriers to care and helping people get answers faster. Just as importantly, we work hand in hand with local GP practices so that anyone diagnosed with hypertension receives the right follow-up, treatment, and long-term support.
This joined-up approach means patients benefit from early detection, timely intervention, and better protection against heart attacks, strokes, and other serious complications.
Bhavesh Patel, Pharmacist at Audley Mills Pharmacy in Rayleigh
Karen Kirby, 60, from Rayleigh, was surprised to find out she had high blood pressure after receiving a free blood pressure check at her local pharmacy at Audley Mills.
The staff were really friendly and helpful – they explained everything clearly and suggested my weight might be a factor. They recommended I visit their clinic for further advice, which I did, and with their support I’ve lost a lot of weight. I’m happy to say my blood pressure is now back to normal!
I would encourage others to go to the pharmacy for a blood pressure check. It’s a quick and simple test that could uncover underlying health issues you might not even be aware of, like it did for me. It’s so important to catch things early before they become more serious.
Karen Kirby, 60, from Rayleigh
Led annually by Blood Pressure UK, Know Your Numbers Week aims to raise awareness about high blood pressure and its dangers. NHS Mid and South Essex is supporting the event through its local campaign, Invincible Feeling, Invisible Danger, which shares advice and guidance about who is most at risk and how to get checked.
It’s important to have your blood pressure checked regularly as your heart may be working harder than it has to. Around one in 10 adults aged 16 to 44 have high blood pressure, and this rises to six in 10 for people over 65.
If you’re over 40 and haven’t had a check in the last six months, you can get one for free at participating pharmacies. Just walk in and ask. You can also get a check as part of your NHS Health Check if you’re aged 40-74 and don’t have any long-term health problems. Just take a sec to check – it could make a big difference to your health.
Advanced nurse practitioner Neil Magee, System Clinical Lead for Cardiovascular Health at NHS Mid and South Essex
You may be more at risk of high blood pressure if you:
- are over 40 years old and haven’t had a check in the last five years
- have a family history of high blood pressure
- have an unbalanced diet, smoke or drink too much alcohol
- are overweight
- have long-term stress
- are of Black African, Black Caribbean or South Asian background.
For more information about blood pressure and your health, speak to your pharmacist or GP or visit the NHS Mid and South Essex blood pressure webpage.