NHS 'No Clues' Campaign
The NHS has launched a new national campaign to find the ‘missing millions’ of people with undiagnosed high blood pressure, which generally has no symptoms.
New campaign to warn people that there are usually no symptoms of high blood pressure
High blood pressure rarely has any symptoms. This goes a long way to explaining why around three in 10 people – 4.2 million people in England – with high blood pressure are undiagnosed.
The NHS has announced an additional 2.5 million blood pressure checks in community pharmacies this year and next, as part of the Pharmacy First programme. It is also urging people aged 40 years and over to get a free blood pressure test at a participating pharmacy.
The public is being warned that there are often ‘no clues’ about who might have high blood pressure - the only way to know is to have a test.
Backed by the former footballer Graeme Souness and TV presenter Angela Rippon it features a first-ever sole blood pressure TV advert encouraging those over 40 to get their blood pressure checked for free by a community pharmacist. Having a blood pressure TV advert on national television for the first time is so important and we at Blood Pressure UK are very excited.
Take a look if you haven’t seen it here
This comes as new survey data reveals widespread misconceptions about the condition among those at risk. It reveals that only one in 14 people are aware that the majority of high blood pressure cases are asymptomatic, and one in six have been put off having a blood pressure check because they don’t feel unhealthy or stressed.
Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, and vascular dementia. However, the survey of more than 2,000 adults aged 40 and over revealed that four in 10 are unaware that, if left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease, and more than a fifth didn’t know that it can cause strokes and heart attacks.
Dr Pauline Swift, Deputy Chair of Trustees, Blood Pressure UK, said: “Regular blood pressure testing for those aged 40 and over is so important.
Many in England today are walking around completely unaware that they have high blood pressure and what the potential risks associated with this are. Early detection of high blood pressure can in many cases be lifesaving, and we would highly encourage those who are eligible to get down to their local pharmacy as soon as possible to get this simple test.”