Blood Pressure Check
Blood Pressure Check
Blood pressure is the force at which your heart pumps blood around the body through your arteries.
What is high blood pressure (hypertension)?
Hypertension or (high blood pressure) is when the blood pressure is 140/90 or higher over several weeks, even when you are resting.
Your blood pressure usually fluctuates depending on what you’re doing. Too high blood pressure, for too long, can cause damage to your body organs.
High blood pressure that is not controlled with medication can put people at an increased risk of having a stroke, heart attack, heart failure, heart disease and kidney failure due to the additional strain on the body’s organs.
NHS hypertension case finding service
At MediFast Delivery Pharmacy our Pharmacists are now offering a free NHS hypertension screening service to all adults over 40.
It is estimated that around 5.5 million people in England are living with undiagnosed high blood pressure (hypertension). If left untreated, hypertension can lead to serious complications such as heart attack and stroke.
Hypertension rarely has any noticeable symptoms. That’s why it is known as a silent killer. The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure checked.
A pharmacist will measure your blood pressure in a private consultation room. If the reading is high, they may offer you an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) device to wear. This can automatically measure your blood pressure at regular intervals over 24 hours, allowing for a more detailed view of your blood pressure.
If you like to know about your blood pressure reading, simply contact us to book an appointment.
This service is for people who have not previously been diagnosed with hypertension. If you have hypertension and would like some information, please contact us to speak to our pharmacist.
What is low blood pressure (hypotension)?
Low blood pressure (or hypotension) is when the blood pressure is 90/60 or less when you’re resting. If you have low blood pressure, you may experience dizziness, fainting, blurred vision, nausea and general weakness. People who are older and have low blood pressure are at higher risk of injuring themselves by falling.
How do you differentiate between high or low blood pressure?
Most people don’t have any symptoms of high blood pressure. Having your blood pressure checked is the only way to find out.
People with low blood pressure will often feel dizzy or lightheaded, particularly if they stand up suddenly.
The NHS recommends that healthy adults who are over 40 should have a blood pressure check every 5 years. People who are at increased risk of high blood pressure should have checks once a year.
It is usual to need to have several checks, and over several weeks if your blood pressure appears initially high. Some people will use a monitor that is carried around with them to see how their blood pressure changes throughout the day. This is called 24-hour ambulatory monitoring.
How can MediFast Delivery Pharmacy help you?
If you think you might be at risk of high blood pressure, or you simply haven’t had it checked in a while, you can contact us to book an appointment to get a free blood pressure check. We have private consultation rooms where you can have the check and discuss the results with a pharmacist.
If you’re diagnosed with high or low blood pressure, then our pharmacist will be able to discuss with you if there are any lifestyle or diet changes that could help your blood pressure or overall heart risk.
You can also find more detailed general information at nhs.uk, where you can also check your heart age.
