10 September 2008

Farnham residents will be given the chance to find out their most vital statistics during the nation's biggest blood pressure testing event, Know your Numbers! Week.

A screening van, donated and staffed by Vitality healthcare, located at Central Car Park, will be offering free blood pressure checks from 8am-5pm on Friday 12 September as part of the award-winning event run by UK charity the Blood Pressure Association.

Gillian Beel, Mayor of Farnham and Councillor Stephen Hill, will be visiting the ‘Pressure Station' at 11.30am on Friday 12 September as part of the award-winning event run by UK charity the Blood Pressure Association.

Celebrities including actress Prunella Scales, presenter Michael Aspel and Eastenders stars Rudolph Walker and Angela Wynter (who play Patrick and Yolande) are lending their support to this year's campaign to encourage all adults to know their blood pressure numbers and take steps to reduce their risk of stroke and heart attack.

16 million adults in the UK have high blood pressure (that's one in three) but more than five million of them don't know it because the condition has no obvious symptoms. Uncontrolled high blood pressure causes strokes, heart attack and heart failure, and can also lead to kidney disease and dementia. However, once detected, the condition can be successfully treated.

Mayor of Farnham, Gillian Beel said: “I am supporting the Blood Pressure Association's Know your Numbers! Week because high blood pressure is such an important health issue. Worryingly, it is a condition of which many people are unaware. I hope that Farnham residents will advantage of a free blood pressure check and reduce their risk of serious illness.”

Mike Rich, Executive Director of the Blood Pressure Association, said: “We are delighted that Mayor Gillian Beal and Councillor Steven Hill are helping us to raise awareness of this serious health issue.

“During this year's campaign we are asking ‘Are you at risk from the ticking time bomb?' Uncontrolled high blood pressure is like a hidden time bomb which can cause stroke, heart attack and heart failure.

“So hopefully lots of people come along to our Pressure Station in the Central car park to take control and reduce their risk of the silent killer by having a free blood pressure check during Know your Numbers! Week. It's quick, free and painless and could save your life.”

To find out more about the campaign, or for a free blood pressure information pack, visit the Know your Numbers! website at http://www.bpassoc.org.uk/kyn or call 020 8772 4994. If you have a question about high blood pressure and would like to speak to someone over the phone, call the Blood Pressure Association's Information Line on 0845 241 0989 (11am-3pm, Mon-Fri).

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Photos of celebrity supporters and people having blood pressure checks can be provided, along with details of the latest research on high blood pressure and feature ideas. Please contact the Blood Pressure Association's Press Office on 020 8772 4993/4984, or email mgederon@sgul.ac.uk
The Blood Pressure Association is the UK's leading blood pressure charity working to lower the nation's blood pressure. The charity provides information and support for people with high blood pressure and raises awareness to prevent the condition. The charity recently won the healthcare category of The Charity Awards 2008 for its work on the Know your Numbers! campaign. For more information visit the charity's main website at http://www.bpassoc.org.uk/, call head office on 020 8772 4994 or contact our information line on 0845 241 0989.
Vitality Healthcare is a comprehensive provider of wellness at work solutions for many types of organisations, covering traditional occupational health, lifestyle screening and assistance programmes. For further information about Vitality Healthcare, please contact Sharon Frost, Marketing Manager on 0800 294 6797.

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