Search is on for county’s missing 29,000 at risk
A campaign has been launched to identify those living with undiagnosedhigh blood pressure.
It is estimated that 29,000 people over the age of 18 in sussex live with undiagnosed high blood pressure, putting them at risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and vascular dementia.
The Get Your Blood Pressure Checked campaign, supported by the British Heart Foundation, Stroke Association,heart r es earchuk, blood Pressure UK, May Measurement month, british society for Heart failure and others, is urgingthose aged 40 years and over to get a free blood pressure test.
Getting checked is quick and pain less and if readings are high, people can be promptly referred to their doctor for treatment and support to bring it under control. local communitypharmacies that are signed up to the NHS Blood Pressure Check service are offering free checks to adults aged over 40 with no history of high blood pressure and those aged 30 to 39 with a family history of high blood pressure.
Additionally, local health and wellbeing services offer free, tailored support for a longer, healthier and happier life – including motivational support and techniques to help people make lifestyle improvements that they would like to make. Find out more at www.sussex.ics.nhs.uk/your-care/healthyliving/managing-your-bloodpressure
Dr Suneeta Kochhar, clinical lead for CVD prevention at NHS Sussex, said: “Hypertension is the third-greatest risk factor for premature death and disability, and is a leading cause of heart attacks and stroke. Monitoring your blood pressure is easy and can be done at home, at your local pharmacy or by a practice nurse at your GP surgery.”