The Stroke Association and Salford with Swinton Rotary Club marked Know Your Blood Pressure Day on Saturday 23 April in The Lowry Centre, with a visit from Salford artist, Harold Riley.
High blood pressure remains the single biggest risk factor for stroke, contributing to over half (54%) of strokes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The team of volunteers provided shoppers with free blood pressure checks throughout the day, along with information and advice on steps to keep it under control. Artwork created by stroke survivors from across the North West was also on display throughout the day. Harold Riley came along to have his blood pressure checked by the charity team and toured the art exhibition.
Rebecca Murray, Community Development and Partnerships Officer at the Stroke Association, said: “High blood pressure is often referred to as the silent killer because it doesn’t have any symptoms and many people have no idea their health may be at risk. Over nine million people in the UK currently have high blood pressure but estimates suggest there could be up to almost seven million people who are undiagnosed and at risk. Getting your blood pressure checked is easy and quick. It’s a simple way to reducing your risk of having a stroke.”
The Stroke Association runs Know your Blood Pressure events throughout the year. To find your nearest blood pressure event, visit www.stroke.org.uk/kybp.
