Know Your Numbers Week: 29,000 people over the age of 18 in Sussex could be at risk from undiagnosed high blood pressure

The annual event organised by Blood Pressure UK is designed to raise awareness of the health impact of high blood pressure, otherwise known as hypertension, because it is the third-biggest risk factor for premature death and disability after poor diet and smoking.

Hypertension is a leading cause of heart attack and stroke and yet 29,000 people over the age of 18 in Sussex could be at risk from undiagnosed hypertension. More than 32,000 people with diagnosed hypertension have not had their blood pressure readings recorded in the last year, and more than 140 heart attacks and over 200 strokes could be avoided in Sussex through better management of diagnosed hypertension.

That’s why the NHS in Sussex is urging people to get checked this ‘Know Your Numbers Week’. Getting checked is quick and painless and if readings are high, people can be promptly referred to their doctor for treatment and support to bring it under control.

People can ‘Know Your Numbers’ at local community pharmacies offering free checks to adults, and can get them checked at pop up sites around Sussex set up specially for ‘Know Your Numbers Week’.

Dr Suneeta Kochhar, Clinical Lead for CVD Prevention at NHS Sussex, said: “Heart attacks are the third-biggest risk factor for premature death and disability after poor diet and smoking. It is a leading cause of heart attack and stroke and yet in Sussex only 64.6% of those who are estimated to have hypertension know that they have it and are actively being supported.

“About a third of people on our GP registers with hypertension may not being treated to target, if we could manage 25,000 we could prevent 140 heart attacks and 209 strokes in Sussex over the next three years.”