Free NHS blood pressure checks available
In the UK, it’s estimated that up to 8 million people are living with undiagnosed or uncontrolled high blood pressure.* Most people do not know they have high blood pressure because there are no obvious symptoms. The only way to know you are suffering from high blood pressure is to have it measured.
If you are aged 40 or over, you may be eligible for a FREE blood pressure check.
Online booking is only available for pharmacies in England.
The British Heart Foundation estimates that high blood pressure causes around 50% of heart attacks and strokes.*
The NHS Blood Pressure Check Service helps you take control of your health by enabling early detection of hypertension using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.
How does it all work?
Select the service at one of our stores, at a time and date that suits you. At your appointment, one of our friendly pharmacy team will take an initial blood pressure measurement.
The pharmacy team will interpret your blood pressure measurement, explain this to you and provide you with tailored advice. If your reading is high, you may then be offered 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. A copy of your results will be given to you.
You may be able to be fitted with the ambulatory monitor there and then, or if it is more convenient for you, you can call back within a few days. Our pharmacy team will fit the device and explain what will happen over the next 24 hours.
When you return the ambulatory monitor, our pharmacy team will interpret the results that have been taken over the last 24 hours, and explain these to you. If these are high, you may then be referred to your GP for management.
What causes high blood pressure?**
In most cases, there is no specific cause of high blood pressure, but there are factors that can increase your risk.
These include:
- Getting older
- Having a family history of high blood pressure
- Smoking
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Eating too much salt and not enough fruit and vegetables
- Not getting enough exercise
- Being overweight, especially around your mid-section
- Ethnicity: people who are of Black African or Black Caribbean descent are at a higher risk of having high blood pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is important to be aware that high blood pressure often isn’t directly caused by anything in particular, and sometimes we do not know what causes it. However you may be more at risk if you:
- Smoke
- Have a family history of high blood pressure
- Are overweight
- Are over 65
- Are of black African or black Caribbean descent
- Eat too much salt
- Drink too much alcohol or caffeine-containing drinks
The free blood pressure check service is for;
- Adults who are 40 years and older, who do not have a current diagnosis of hypertension
- People, by exception, under the age of 40 who have a recognised family history of hypertension (at the discretion of the pharmacy team)
- People between 35-39 years old at the discretion of the pharmacy team
- Adults, with or without a hypertension diagnosis, sent by their GP
This is service is not appropriate for people who already have their blood pressure regularly monitored by a healthcare professional or for people who require daily blood pressure monitoring for any period of time.
Please note that online booking is only available for Pharmacies in England.
At the initial appointment, our pharmacy team will take as long as necessary to answer any questions you may have and discuss your results, but the blood pressure check itself takes less than a couple of minutes.
If you are eligible for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, the monitor will be fitted and loaned to you for 24 hours. It will take measurements every 30 minutes during your waking hours, and once an hour during the night.
Low blood pressure, also known as hypotension, doesn’t often cause any issues. However, if it is causing you problems such as dizziness or fainting, our pharmacy team can provide you with useful lifestyle advice that may ease your symptoms. In some cases, changes to your medication may be necessary with the support of your GP.
Various foods and food categories can increase your blood pressure when consumed excessively. Avoiding or reducing these foods in your diet can improve your overall health and reduce the risk of high blood pressure-related issues.
There are a variety of lifestyle changes you can make that can help you maintain a healthy blood pressure.
High blood pressure has no symptoms until it develops into something more serious, so it’s important to get it checked if you think you are at risk. A blood pressure check at your pharmacy gives an accurate measurement of the pressure in your arteries, and your pharmacist will be able to offer advice.
You can check your blood pressure at home by purchasing a blood pressure monitor. However, if you want accurate results, you should visit your pharmacist, who will be able to provide you with advice based on your readings.
A blood pressure test measures the pressure in your arteries each time your heart beats and pumps blood throughout your body. Our pharmacy team can interpret your results and offer personalised advice.
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