This year’s Know Your Numbers campaign will take place from 5-11 September 2022, and we want to encourage everyone to check their blood pressure (BP) and Know their Numbers, in the same way they know their height and weight.
Responsible for more than half of all strokes and heart attacks, high blood pressure is also a risk factor for heart disease, kidney disease and vascular dementia – costing the NHS over £2.1 billion every year and accounting for 12% of all GP appointments in England.
High blood pressure rarely has any symptoms which is why it is called the ‘silent killer’. The only way to know you have the condition is to get your blood pressure measured. The good news is that if it’s high, it is one of the most preventable and treatable health conditions, allowing individuals to make a real difference to their own health and wellbeing. Identifying the problem and making small changes really can save lives.
A high priority for the Frimley Health and Care Integrated Care System, we are asking you to take the measurement challenge and help us reach colleagues, friends and family who may not consider themselves at risk of high blood pressure, ensuring we all get to know our numbers.
Blood Pressure monitoring is an effective and inexpensive way to keep blood pressure under control and the evidence behind this method continues to grow. It gives you a way to take control of your health, feel confident and take the pressure off the NHS at the same time.
Kaylee Godfrey, Senior head of communications and engagement shares her story:
After a routine visit to my specialist, it was noted that my blood pressure was extremely high. The specialist dismissed it, saying that I just had ‘white coat syndrome’ – i.e. I was stressed because I was at hospital and having someone take my blood pressure. I remembered the work the team had been undertaking in support of the Living well ambition to raise awareness of high blood pressure and convinced her not dismiss it – resulting in a letter being written to my GP.
In the meantime, I went on to the Frimley Heath and Care know your number webpage and read all the information, understanding the steps I needed to take for myself.
I bought a home monitoring kit, watched the online video and by the time the GP contacted me the next week I had a whole week of readings to give. I had also started to implement the changes to my lifestyle our web page recommended and through that page was able to click through to trusted sources of information in the areas I wanted to know more about.
Long story short – that information really helped me at a point where I could have become really panicky or upset. Instead, I found out all the information I needed in one place, was reassured and was well prepared for my medical appointment.
This year, we want everyone to Know Their Numbers! and find those with undiagnosed and uncontrolled high blood pressure.
We are asking you to:
- Take your BP and get to know your numbers
- Encourage others to measure their blood pressure at home or via a community pharmacy
- Raise awareness about the risks of high blood pressure
We have developed a range of information resources all available to download through our webpage here.