NHS England — London » NHS urges Londoners to observe blood strain and mitigate main well being dangers

This Know Your Numbers Week (8^th-14^th September 2025) the NHS in London urges Londoners to get their blood strain checked, a important step in stopping life-threatening problems.

High blood strain is essentially the most preventable explanation for loss of life within the nation, but over a 3rd of London adults have no idea their blood strain studying. Thanks to the NHS shift from hospital to group care, getting checked is now extra handy than ever.

With checks obtainable through GPs, pharmacies, Community Diagnostic Centres and neighbourhood well being providers throughout the capital, getting a blood strain studying can now match simply into Londoners’ on a regular basis lives.

In May 2025 alone, over 53,000 blood strain checks had been offered in London pharmacies (53,292).

Dr. Chris Streather, Chief Medical Director for the NHS in London, stated: “Getting your blood strain checked is significant. Blood strain points can typically be symptomless, however may cause important long-term well being dangers, like coronary heart assaults, strokes and sadly generally early loss of life.

“Whether at home or at your local pharmacy or GP, I encourage all Londoners to take a quick and easy blood pressure check. It could help to improve your health for years to come.”

Alarming new analysis from Blood Pressure UK reveals that over a 3rd of adults (37%) residing in Greater London have no idea their present blood strain studying, and over 1 / 4 (27%) don’t verify it frequently.

Getting checked is fast and may both present peace of thoughts, or the possibility to make life-style adjustments earlier than extra severe well being issues develop, like strokes, coronary heart assaults, kidney illness and dementia.

Barts Health helps native individuals to catch hidden coronary heart dangers early by providing free ldl cholesterol assessments throughout East London pharmacies. Every month, round 220 individuals in east London die from coronary heart and circulatory situations, and getting examined will help forestall coronary heart assaults and strokes.

Jagjot Kaur Chahal, Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Lead Pharmacist at Barts Health, stated: “This quick test helps people find out if they’re at risk before something serious happens. Pharmacies are a convenient, trusted place to get checked and take control of your heart health.”

Over six in 10 London adults (64%) say they might verify their blood strain extra frequently in the event that they had been conscious of the dangers.

Professor Kevin Fenton, Regional Director for London within the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), stated: “High blood strain makes coronary heart assaults and strokes more likely and often has no signs.

“People of Black African, Black Caribbean and South Asian heritage are sometimes at increased danger of getting a coronary heart assault or stroke, so early detection via common blood strain checks is especially necessary.

“High blood pressure can often by lowered by lifestyle factors such as quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, eating healthily and taking regular exercise.”

In the ten Year Health Plan, the NHS commits to shift their focus from illness to prevention, to scale back the burden of illness on providers, and enhance well being and life expectancy.

It is feasible to enhance blood strain via life-style adjustments, resembling:

• Cutting down on salt
• Eating loads of vegatables and fruits
• Exercising frequently
• Drinking alcohol sparsely.

Read extra in regards to the NHS shifts from hospital to group and from illness to prevention here.

Find out which pharmacies supply free blood strain checks here.