Heart Research UK supports NHS blood pressure campaign Posted on March 22, 2024May 28, 2025 by Sarah Gill By Olivia Schofield Heart Research UK backs new NHS campaign encouraging more people to have their blood pressure checked. The campaign is set to raise awareness of high blood pressure (also known as hypertension), which is one of the largest known risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is considered a ‘silent killer’. There are often no symptoms but if left untreated, it can lead to fatal heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and vascular dementia. Cardiovascular disease is a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels and causes one in four deaths in England. There are often ‘no clues’ about who might have high blood pressure, the only way to know is by a simple blood pressure test. It is hoped the campaign will find the ‘missing millions’ of people who have undiagnosed high blood pressure. High blood pressure is estimated to affect 32% of adults across England. In a new survey, worrying numbers show people don’t know the potentially fatal effects of high blood pressure, with 41% unaware, if left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease, and over a fifth being unaware that it can cause strokes and heart attacks. High blood pressure can be easily reversed, either with medication and/or lifestyle changes. Kate Bratt-Farrar, Chief Executive at Heart Research UK, said: “Prevention is vital in helping to reduce the nation’s risk of developing high blood pressure. Eating a balanced, healthy diet, getting plenty of physical activity, as well as avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, can reduce your risk of coronary heart disease or a heart attack. Knowing your blood pressure level is so important for understanding your risk of cardiovascular disease, and as there are often no symptoms, the only way to know is by getting it checked, which is quick, simple and can be lifesaving.” The NHS will be contributing an additional 2.5 million blood pressure checks in community pharmacies over the next two years. Those aged 40 and over will be urged to get a free blood pressure test at participating pharmacies, which could potentially be lifesaving. The campaign is being backed by Graeme Souness, TV pundit and former footballer, who is affected by high blood pressure and had a heart attack, and Gloria Hunniford, TV presenter and broadcaster, whose dad and husband have suffered strokes. The ‘Get Your Blood Pressure Checked’ drive supports the ambitions of the NHS Long Term Plan, which focuses on tackling health inequalities and the prevention of ill health. It aims to prevent 150,000 strokes, heart attacks and dementia over 10 years by raising awareness and diagnosis of high blood pressure. If you’re aged 40 and over, you can get a free blood pressure check at your local participating pharmacy, without needing to book in advance.
Health check day at Liverpool primary school to improve locals’ heart health Posted on July 5, 2022May 28, 2025 by Sarah Gill By Ebba Ritzen In June, we partnered with Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (LHCH) and Liverpool FC Foundation (LFC) for a day of health checks and heart health education at Fazakerley Primary School in Liverpool. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the largest cause of premature deaths in deprived areas, but it’s also been identified as the single biggest area where the NHS can save lives over the next 10 years. This inspired Heart Research UK, LHCH and LFC to create a project to improve the heart health of the local Liverpool population. Nearly half of the city’s primary schools are in highly deprived areas*, and this is where the project will direct its efforts. The health check day at Fazakerley Primary School was a pilot and we’re hoping to roll out the same concept in other schools and areas. An American style school bus was parked outside the school all day for teachers, carers, and parents to learn more about blood pressure, heart rhythm, and lungs with the opportunity to get their blood pressure and cholesterol checked by LHCH nurses. Healthcare professionals were also giving out healthy lifestyle advice and signposting to services like smoking cessation. In total, 101 people attended the bus during the day and they all found it both useful and informative. Nurses found that 16% of the attendees had raised blood pressure, and although a single reading is not a diagnosis, for some this will be the first important step on the way to confirm high blood pressure and management to their risk of developing heart disease. 45 people were advised to make contact with their GP for a variety of health reasons which included further blood pressure check, pulse check, smoking cessation referral amongst other reasons. Through our own Primary School Programme, the children in Year 6 were also educated on the importance of heart health. They were taken on an exciting journey through the heart, using virtual reality and computer games. The programme is entirely free for schools to sign up to and covers all the heart and circulatory points on the KS2 curriculum. Liverpool FC Foundation also delivered an after-school PE lesson that the children took part in. *The deprivation data has been provided by Intel Analytics at Liverpool City Council and is based on 2019 data collection and therefore may be subject to change.