Get your blood pressure checked. 

The Occupational Health Department will be out and about for “Know Your Numbers” week, so come along and get your blood pressure checked.

Know Your Numbers Week is an initiative of Blood Pressure UK, the country’s leading charity providing information and support to people with high blood pressure. They believe the only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have regular checks and remember the numbers in the same way as your weight and height – in other words, KNOW YOUR NUMBERS – and encourage your family and friends to do the same.

Blood pressure is the pressure of blood in your arteries. If it’s too high over a period and is left untreated you will be more at risk of having a heart attack or stroke. High blood pressure usually has no associated symptoms which is why many people do not know they have it.

The only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have regular checks.

The cause of high blood pressure is not definitive however it is known there are some factors that make it more likely:

• A family history of high blood pressure, heart attack or stroke

• If you are African or Caribbean descent

• If you are South Asian descent

• Your age – blood pressure increases as we get older

• Your lifestyle can also affect your blood pressure, for example being overweight, eating too much salt, doing too little exercise, drinking too much alcohol and not eating enough fruit and vegetables can cause high blood pressure.

Dates for appointments are as follows:

• Monday 4^th September – 8am – 9am Civic Offices, Barry (Rear entrance porch).
• Tuesday 5^th September – 8am-9am Alps Depot (Main reception)
• Thursday 7^th September – 8am -9am – Docks Office, Barry (Main reception)

If you are unable to attend any of these sessions, please contact Occupational Health and make an appointment to call in to get your B/P checked.