don’t know it. The only way to find out your blood pressure is to have a blood pressure test. You can ask your GP to test your blood pressure – the test itself is easy and painless – or you may find it more convenient to have it checked at your local Careway pharmacy. Whether or not you’ll need to take medicine for high blood pressure
will depend on how high your blood pressure is over a period of time, rather than just by taking one reading. If it is consistently high you may be offered prescription medication to help lower it. Lowering your blood pressure effectively can reduce the strain on your heart and blood vessels, which can lower your chances of having a serious health problem in the future such as a stroke or heart attack. Whether or not you will be offered blood pressure tablets will also
depend on other risk factors – so for instance, if you’re a smoker, if you have high cholesterol or someone in your family has had a stroke or heart disease, your GP may be more likely to recommend you take blood pressure medication. There are many different medicines prescribed to treat high blood
pressure. If you’ve been prescribed blood pressure medicines you can ask your local Careway pharmacist any questions you may have about them, including the best way to take them, whether or not you could experience any side effects or if there are any alternative medicines that may work better for you.
Lifestyle changes If your blood pressure is high or even slightly raised you may be able to lower it – or if it’s normal keep it at a healthy level – by making some simple changes to your lifestyle. Some of these include:
• Cutting down on salt, as it raises blood pressure (adults should aim for no more than 6g of salt a day).
• Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, as they contain nutrients that could help lower your blood pressure (aim for at least five portions a day, a portion being roughly the size of your fist).
• Sticking to the recommended limits for alcohol (up to 14 units a week spread evenly over three or four days).
• Cutting down on caffeine by drinking less coffee, tea and caffeine- based soft drinks.
• Avoiding fatty foods, especially those that contain saturated fats (including red meats, butter, palm oil and ghee). A diet that’s rich in unsaturated fats, on the other hand, may help lower your cholesterol, which could reduce your risk of a heart attack or strokes. Unsaturated fats include olive oil, rapeseed oil and sunflower oil.
• Having less sugar in your diet, as eating and drinking too much sugar can lead to weight gain, which can increase your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
• Staying active – aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week (always check with your doctor before starting to do any exercise, especially if your blood pressure is high). According to Blood Pressure UK, the types of exercise that may be good for your blood pressure include cycling, brisk walking, swimming, dancing, mowing the lawn, tennis and jogging.
• Losing weight if you need to, as being overweight can also raise your blood pressure (ask your local Careway pharmacist for advice on managing your weight).
• Giving up smoking, as it may increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke (your pharmacist can offer lots of support if you need help with quitting).
For lots more information and resources to help keep your blood pressure healthy, visit
www.bloodpressureuk.org. You can also call Blood Pressure UK’s helpline on 020 7882 6218 or email your enquiry to
info@bloodpressureuk.org.
A diet that’s rich in unsaturated fats, like olive oil, may help lower your cholesterol, which may help reduce your risk of a heart attack or strokes
Know Your Numbers! Week 2019
This year’s Know Your Numbers! Week takes place between September 9 - 15. During this time you can get a free blood pressure check in many places around the UK, including local pharmacies, GP surgeries, health clubs, leisure centres, shopping centres, health clubs and supermarkets. Run by Blood Pressure UK, Know Your
Numbers! Week in 2019 aims to focus on helping people to live well for longer. This, the charity says, means knowing your blood pressure. Indeed, since its launch in 2001, Know Your Numbers! Week has enabled more than 1.5 million people to have their blood pressure checked. To find your nearest free blood pressure
check during Know Your Numbers! Week, simply enter your postcode or town at
www.bloodpressureuk.org (search free blood pressure check).
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