NHS Pharmacy First Campaign: Get your blood pressure checked

The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get a blood pressure test to lower your risk of a fatal heart attack, stroke, kidney disease or vascular dementia. High blood pressure is a serious concern.  

This new campaign encourages all adults aged 40 and over to get a blood pressure check. It’s a free, simple and a non-invasive procedure conducted in privacy at your local pharmacy, and you don’t need to book in advance.

High blood pressure is the largest treatable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) which can lead to a fatal heart attack, stroke, kidney disease or vascular dementia. CVD causes 1 in 4 deaths in England.

As high blood pressure (hypertension) usually has no symptoms, it is estimated that 4.2 million people in England have undiagnosed high blood pressure.

Consumer research has revealed that there is significant inertia around blood pressure testing due to a common misconception that high blood pressure is not a serious concern and a lack of knowledge that hypertension presents with no symptoms in the majority of cases.

To challenge these harmful assumptions the brand new advertising features the fictional detective struggling to solve the mystery of high blood pressure, due to there being ‘no clues’ and ‘insufficient evidence’.  Watch the video below.