High blood pressure (hypertension)

The problem for Tameside

High blood pressure is England’s 3rd highest risk factor for premature death or disability (after smoking and poor diet).

And in Tameside, 1 in 3 adults have high blood pressure.

At least half of all strokes and heart attacks are related to high blood pressure. And high blood pressure is a major factor in chronic kidney disease, heart failure and dementia.

But high blood pressure rarely has any noticeable symptoms.

How to minimise the risk

Getting your blood pressure checked is easy. And it could save your life.

You can have your blood pressure checked at your GP surgery and some pharmacies, or you could purchase your own monitor to check your own and your family’s blood pressure.

In particular, all adults over 40 are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every 5 years.
The following lifestyle changes can help prevent and lower high blood pressure:

• Reduce the amount of salt you eat and have a generally healthy diet
• Cut back on alcohol if you drink too much
• Lose weight if you’re overweight
• Exercise regularly
• Cut down on caffeine
• Stop smoking
• Try to get at least 6 hours of sleep a night

There’s more information about blood pressure on the NHS website.

Extra opportunities to have your blood pressure checked in summer and autumn 2019

Through our partners Be Well Tameside, we’ve organised the following additional opportunities to have your blood pressure checked and find out more information.

(TBC = to be confirmed)