Project title: Blood Pressure Connect
Region: Yorkshire & the Humber
Award amount: £9985.75
Award date: October 2022 – September 2023
This Healthy Heart Grant project has now finished, read on for the project highlights.
The Problem:
Blood Pressure Connect took part in Keighley, Bradford, which is in the top 10% most deprived areas in England. The risk of developing high blood pressure increases in places with health inequalities, such as Keighley. Additionally, Bradford District and Craven has a higher than national average mortality rate of under 75’s from cardiovascular diseases, which are considered preventable. This area has a significant BAME population who are at a higher risk of hypertension than the general population, highlighting the further need for an intervention. Within this area of England, the high level of need for practical and accessible service delivery and system change is emphasized to connect clinical and community-based health support options that treat ‘the whole person’.
The Project:
Keighley Healthy Living’s project aimed to prevent the escalation of high blood pressure and related future illnesses by working collaboratively with partners including, patients, voluntary care sector, Healthy Hearts (Act As One, Bradford) and primary care networks WACA & Modality.
This project increased awareness and understanding of what high blood pressure is, why it can cause future health conditions and how it can be controlled through medication, behaviour and lifestyle changes. Health assessments were carried out measuring blood pressure, BMI, alcohol and nicotine use and physical activity levels. Participants received health coaching to achieve the readiness to engage in community based, free or low-cost health and care support surrounding diet, physical activity, and social and mental health. This programme provided people with an opportunity to undertake a blood pressure cookery course on how to prepare healthy meals which supported the management of their condition, as well as one to one sessions with a nutritionist for further advice on diet and healthy eating. Additionally, a female only exercise class was delivered once a week to assist in increasing the physical activity opportunities within the community. Community-based health options for those living with hypertension were created as a result of this project.
Project Highlights:
This project engaged 61 beneficiaries living with raised blood pressure within Keighley and these individuals now have an increased awareness of what hypertension is, the importance of management and the role of lifestyle factors on heart health. Blood Pressure Connect increased the awareness of the community health services on offer to the participants for additional support and GP’s are now aware of the increase in blood pressure and followed it up with appropriate interventions. 94% of people who completed the programme made at least one lifestyle change and 70% of participants have seen a reduction in their blood pressure since the beginning of the programme. Due to the success of this project, Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership are running the programme for a further 12 months.
Avril’s case study (participant):
When Avril had her first blood pressure connect appointment, she explained that due to suffering from Arthritis her physical activity levels were very low and some daily tasks were difficult such climbing up and down the stairs without stopping. Avril’s disclosed that she drank a lot of red wine and coffee throughout the week and enjoyed snacking on salty cashew nuts. During the initial appointment, Avril was supported to identify lifestyle changes which could support the management of her high blood pressure including switching to decaffeinated drinks, reducing alcohol intake and choosing unsalted cashew nuts.
When Avril attended the 2nd appointment her BP readings had increased slightly and when discussing lifestyle, Avril reflected that she had struggled to make the changes discussed during the first appointment. With further support by the 3rd appointment, Avril had made several lifestyle changes including going for longer walks, reducing her alcohol intake to only consuming alcohol during special occasions, drinking decaffeinated coffee and eating roasted cashew nuts as a snack instead of salted.
Avril had also completed the blood pressure cookery course which she reported to have had found enjoyable. When Avril’s blood pressure readings were taken during the appointment, they were found to be significantly lower than at the previous other two appointments. Avril asked if she could keep in touch with staff member she had been working with as she said she found the sessions motivated her to maintain the lifestyle changes which she had made.
