Know your Blood Pressure Day - Upminster

When did you last have your Blood Pressure checked ?

For a number of years the Rotary Club of Hornchurch & Upminster have been supporting the annual National Blood Pressure Awareness Campaign in May by encouraging passers by to have their Blood Pressure checked at the United Reformed Church in Station Road, Upminster.

From about 10am to 2pm on a Saturday recently we had four doctors giving blood pressure checks and advising on life-style matters as appropriate to people who agreed to have this free test.

Some 120 volunteered and fortunately most people were told that all was OK and went away happy. A number however, where the result was marginal, were told to make an appointment with their doctor to have a further check. But a couple had worryingly high blood pressure and were advised to see their GP without delay.

I spoke to the gentleman pictured above to whom this happened some seven years ago, He went to his GP as advised who sent him to Bart’s Hospital straight away where the next day he had a triple heart bypass.  Now as a fit looking 92 year old, he lives to tell the story.

Just one case like this makes it all worth while.

John Kent