Knowing your blood pressure is a 'win-win'

Once again, members of the Rotary Club of Oadby held a Know Your Blood Pressure event in conjunction with the Stroke Association.

With the kind permission of pharmacist Bharat Maru and the manager of the Sainsbury's store in Oadby, Rotarians and qualified volunteers took the blood pressures of dozens of shoppers during a six-hour period.

For most of the 75 clients, it was good news as they were told that their blood pressure was normal. But even those 19 whose blood pressure was abnormal, it was beneficial, as they were advised to see their GP and seek advice.

Rotary Club of Oadby president Philip Burrell said: "This project is one of the best things the club does; people whose blood pressure is normal can go home secure in the knowledge that their blood pressure is OK and those who follow our experts' advice to see their GP are likely to get treatment which will keep them healthy.

"It's a real win-win."

Among those trained volunteers helping deliver the free service was Sheena Stamp, who has helped the club provide this service for several years. To hear what she said at the end of her two-hour shift, please click here.

Mr Burrell said: "It is only thanks to our volunteers, like Sheena, and to the management and staff of Sainsbury's that the Rotary Club of Oadby is able to offer this service. We are very grateful to them.

"We believe this helps improve the lives of those who have the satisfaction of being told that they have a normal blood pressure and that, by getting medication and advice from their GPs we may even be helping people to prolong their healthy lives.

"And we collect a lot of anonymous data which helps the Stroke Association devise and deliver research and treatments in the future."

Organiser Colin Robertson said: "Clearly there is a much greater public awareness of the risks from high blood pressure when comparing with the tart of the campaign 10 or more years ago. A frequent response from members of the public was that they were getting their blood pressure checked by the GPs and more instances of people using blood pressure monitors at home."

Stroke is the biggest cause of adult disability and the third highest cause of deaths in the UK. High blood pressure is the main cause of stroke. Forty per cent of strokes could be avoided by better control of blood pressure.

For more details, visit www.stroke.org.uk