Know Your Numbers
Take Control of your Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can lead to serious health issues such as a stroke, heart attack and kidney disease. People of any age can experience hypertension, but the risk increases as you get older.
Often there are few signs or symptoms of high blood pressure. That’s why it’s important to keep an eye on it with regular blood pressure checks.
If you have a high blood pressure reading, your GP practice will arrange to check this and see if you do have a diagnosis of high blood pressure. Treatment, if needed, will involve lifestyle measures. Your GP clinical team will also discuss with you options for medicines to maintain your blood pressure at a healthy range.
Get Checked
The only way of knowing whether you may have high blood pressure is to have a blood pressure test. There are several options for getting your blood pressure checked in Hounslow.
Healthy Hounslow
If you’re aged 18 or over, you can get your check with the Healthy Hounslow ambulance. Please take a look at the events calendar for the location and timings of our ambulance clinics. Want to know what a blood pressure check with Healthy Hounslow looks like? Watch local resident Andrea get hers checked in this video.
Health Outreach Team
This friendly team also provide blood pressure checks at the Treaty Centre and out and about at venues across Hounslow. Check out where you can find them here.
Pharmacies
If you’re over 40, you can get a free blood pressure check at participating pharmacies in Hounslow. Find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks.
GP
Your GP or practice nurse can check your blood pressure. There might even be a machine in the waiting room you can use to measure your own blood pressure.
You will receive information and guidance as part of your check. This will tell you what to do next, either to maintain healthy blood pressure or get it under control if that’s needed.
Home blood pressure monitoring can also be a useful way of seeing what your blood pressure is like in your daily life. Blood Pressure UK has resources to explain why home monitoring can be helpful and how to choose a monitor, as well as how to use your home monitor.
What does my Reading Mean?
Everyone’s blood pressure will be slightly different. What’s considered low or high for you may be normal for someone else. If you have a recent blood pressure reading, use the NHS Check your blood pressure tool below to understand what your reading means. You’ll also get information about what to do next.
You can also calculate your heart age using the NHS heart age calculator above, by entering your weight, height, blood pressure and cholesterol. The calculator will compare your real age to your heart age by asking you questions about your health and give you tips on how to improve your heart age by making some healthy lifestyle changes. You can still use the calculator if you do not have your cholesterol details, but the results will be less accurate.
Lifestyle changes to Reduce Blood Pressure
These lifestyle changes can help prevent and lower high blood pressure:
- Have a healthier diet
- Reduce the amount of salt you consume
- Limit your alcohol intake
- Lose weight if you’re overweight
- Get active and take regular exercise
- Cut down on caffeine
- Stop smoking
Some people with high blood pressure may also need to take one or more medicines to stop their blood pressure from getting too high.
Want to make some lifestyle changes but not sure where to start? You don’t have to do it alone! Check out how Healthy Hounslow can support you here.
