2025-07-30 · 4 min read
High blood pressure - the silent one, and why it is worth a free check
Half of all heart attacks and strokes in the UK are linked to high blood pressure - and most people who have it do not feel a thing. The NHS check at our pharmacy takes five minutes and costs nothing.
High blood pressure is the most common preventable cause of heart attack and stroke in the UK, and it is almost completely silent. There is no headache to warn you, no breathlessness, no obvious sign at all - until something significant happens. The only way to know is to measure it.
Who the free NHS check is for
- Anyone aged 40 or over, who has not had a check in the last year
- Younger adults with a family history of high blood pressure, heart disease or stroke
- People worried about their numbers - we would rather check than not
How the appointment works
Pop in or book a slot. We take you into the private consultation room, sit you down for a minute or two, and take a single reading. If the number sits in a normal range, we tell you, write it down for you, and that is that. If it is borderline or high, we move to a 24-hour ambulatory monitor - a small device you wear at home that takes regular readings as you go about your day. It is much more accurate than a one-off measurement in a clinic.
What we do with the result
Once we have an accurate picture, we share the result with your GP and talk you through what it means. Sometimes the answer is small lifestyle changes - more walking, less salt, better sleep, less alcohol. Sometimes medication is the right call, and your GP will take that decision with you. Either way, you leave knowing where you stand.
Five minutes today is the easiest piece of preventive medicine on offer. Walk in any time.
From the team