Check your blood pressure to protect your heart health

Residents aged 40 and over are encouraged to get their blood pressure checked as part of the London Million Hearts and Minds Challenge, a London-wide campaign to help prevent heart attacks and strokes by identifying high blood pressure that might otherwise go undetected.

High blood pressure is linked to about half of all heart attacks and strokes, yet seven in 10 of these conditions are preventable. High blood pressure often has no obvious symptoms, so getting checked is an important step towards identifying it and reducing your risk.

This is especially important for people over 40 from Black and South Asian communities, and for those in temporary work or self-employment, who are more likely to have undiagnosed high blood pressure.

Alongside getting checked, small lifestyle changes can also make a big difference to our health. Eating well, being more physically active, managing stress, quitting smoking and cutting back on alcohol can all help improve heart health.

If you smoke and would like help to quit, Richmond’s free Stop Smoking Service offers friendly, personalised support, including one-to-one advice and access to stop smoking aids.

You can also use the NHS heart age calculator to see how your heart health compares with your actual age and get practical advice to help reduce your risk.

You can join the challenge by getting your blood pressure checked, taking steps to keep your heart healthy, and encouraging friends and family to join in too.

We’re encouraging residents aged 40 and over to ask their local pharmacy about getting a free blood pressure check.

Free NHS Health Checks are also available for eligible people aged between 40 and 74 years. They help assess your risk of developing common conditions. The 20–30 minute NHS Health Check, carried out by a health professional, can help identify early signs of conditions including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. Check if you’re eligible and book with your local GP or participating pharmacist.

The London Million Hearts and Minds Challenge is an NHS-led partnership working to improve heart health across the capital, save lives and reduce health inequalities.