Overview

• Blood Pressure UK’s Know Your Numbers Week is prompting adults, especially those over 40, to get tested through community pharmacies, GP practices or at home.
• NHS England South West reports 118,315 people checked in 18 months, with modelling suggesting about 700 heart attacks and 1,000 strokes averted and roughly £20 million in costs avoided.
• A Blood Pressure UK survey found 43% of 40–55 year‑olds do not know their readings, with around 4.2 million undiagnosed in England and roughly five million across the UK.
• Clinicians describe hypertension as largely symptom‑free yet linked to heart, stroke and kidney complications, urging prompt advice and treatment for high readings.
• Guidance highlights healthy readings near 120/80 mmHg, flags consistent values above 140/90 mmHg for attention, and advises over‑40s to test at least every five years using week‑long home averages when self‑monitoring.