FREE blood pressure checks will be available at 20 pharmacies this week as part of a new campaign aimed at detecting and preventing cardiovascular disease.
The Jersey Heart Support Group campaign, titled Know Your Numbers, runs until Sunday and encourages people to visit participating community pharmacies for a free-of-charge blood pressure check.
The initiative has been created, in part, because of the often asymptomatic nature of high blood pressure – which affects approximately one in five Islanders.
If left untreated, the condition can lead to a host of serious conditions, including heart disease, stroke, heart attack and kidney disease.
In addition to the free blood pressure checks, the campaign encourages Islanders to make “everyday” lifestyle changes to reduce their blood pressure.
These changes are stated to include eating a healthy diet, being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, drinking alcohol in moderation and stopping smoking.
Mark Harris, lead for the Jersey Heart Support Group, described knowing your blood pressure as “one of the simplest ways to understand more about your health”.
“High blood pressure can often be detected early and managed through lifestyle changes and medical support where needed,” he added.
Participating pharmacies:
- Boots Pharmacy Queen Street
- Boots Pharmacy Waitrose St Saviour
- Boots Pharmacy St Peter
- Boots Pharmacy Quennevais Parade
- Castle Quay Pharmacy
- Morrisons Pharmacy St Ouen Village
- Cleveland Pharmacy
- Roseville Pharmacy
- Coop Pharmacy St Peter
- Coop Pharmacy New Era
- Coop Pharmacy Grande Marche
- Coop Pharmacy Bath Street
- Coop Pharmacy The Parade
- Coop Pharmacy Quennevais Parade
- Coop Pharmacy Red Houses
- Coop Pharmacy Gorey Village
- Le Quesne’s Pharmacy
- Pharmacy Plus, Queens Road
- Reids Pharmacy Five Oaks
- Carpathia Pharmacy
