King's Pharmacy
What Does my Blood Pressure Level Mean & How Do you Check it?
A blood pressure test checks if your blood pressure is normal, high, or low. Blood pressure refers to the amount of strength with which blood pushes on the walls of your arteries as it moves around the body. ‘How can I check my blood pressure in Birmingham?’ Keep reading to find out more.
Low blood pressure (hypotension) shouldn’t be a cause for alarm in most cases, although it can lead to dizziness and fainting in certain people.
On the other hand, high blood pressure (hypertension) is a greater cause for concern, as it can increase the risk of developing severe health conditions, like heart attacks and strokes, if left untreated.
Having a blood pressure test could be a lifesaving decision since it’s the only way to tell your blood pressure levels.
How can I check my blood pressure in Birmingham ? – NHS Blood Pressure Check service
Have your blood pressure test at any given time, especially if you keep worrying about it.
Adults aged 40 to 74 years in England are offered blood pressure tests every five years as part of the NHS Health Check. The NHS Blood Pressure Check service aims to help find previously undetected cases of hypertension. Hypertension can cause cardiovascular disease, which can be fatal. Therefore, it’s vital that blood pressure abnormalities are detected as early as possible.
If the test results show that you have high or low blood pressure or are at high risk of developing either, you may need to do the tests more frequently.
A number of places do offer blood pressure tests, such as:
– Pharmacies
– The local GP surgery
– Some places of work
How is my blood pressure in Birmingham checked?
The machines used for blood pressure testing vary, but the majority of them come with an arm cuff attached.
The pharmacist will wrap the arm cuff around your upper arm before filling it with air to give it a tight grip. Although the feeling can be uncomfortable, it only takes a few seconds.
Whilst your blood pressure is being taken, relax and avoid talking during the process.
An automated device usually detects the measurements found by the sensors in the arm cuff then transfers them to a digital display.
You should be able to view the results straight away.
Understanding your blood pressure reading
The measurements for blood pressure are in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and the results are recorded as two numbers:
– Systolic pressure – the pressure when blood is pushing out of your heart.
– Diastolic pressure – the pressure when the heart rests in-between beats.
The systolic pressure is always the highest figure and is always provided first. For example, when the blood pressure test result reads “120/80mmHg”, the 120mmHg is for systolic pressure and 80mmHg represents diastolic pressure.
For general purposes:
– The normal figure for blood pressure should read between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg.
– High blood pressure is when it reads 140/90mmHg or higher.
– Low blood pressure happens if the figure is 90/60mmHg or lower.
You may have to reconsider your lifestyle if the figure falls between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg, since you may be at risk of developing serious health conditions.
You can find a free NHS tool on their website that can help you calculate your blood pressure.
How to check your blood pressure at home
You can purchase a digital blood pressure machine if you regularly need to track your blood pressure from home. However, it’s important to consult with your pharmacist or GP for advice if you need it.
Check your blood pressure in-store with the NHS Blood Pressure Check service
Alternatively, you can visit us in store for a blood pressure test for peace of mind in minutes. If your results show an abnormality, we will be on hand to recommend any treatment or lifestyle changes, and we can even refer you for further treatment if necessary.
Book your blood pressure check below!
This blog post was written on behalf of King’s Pharmacy by Pharmacy Mentor.
