Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of premature death in the UK, affecting 7 million people and resulting in 1.6 million disability-adjusted life years. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a major risk factor for CVD, and it is estimated that over 5.5 million people in England have undiagnosed hypertension.
Early detection is crucial in reducing the risk of complications, including cardiovascular disease. However, due to the impact of COVID-19 on routine blood pressure monitoring, detection levels have fallen in the past two years. That’s where The Precinct Pharmacy can help. We are working closely with the NHS to provide the Hypertension Case-Finding Service in Shirley, helping to detect and treat patients with hypertension in our community.
What is Hypertension?
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a common condition where the long-term force of blood against artery walls is high enough to potentially cause severe health problems. Unfortunately, hypertension does not typically present noticeable symptoms, making regular checkups essential. By visiting your GP or our pharmacy offering the Hypertension Case-Finding Service in Shirley, you can have your blood pressure checked. If left untreated, hypertension can significantly increase the risk of serious issues such as heart attacks and strokes.
Please get in touch if you have any questions at all.
Causes and Ways to Reduce High Blood Pressure
The causes of high blood pressure may not always be clear, but certain factors can increase your risk. These include:
– Consuming excessive salt and not enough fruits and vegetables in your diet
– Insufficient physical activity
– Being overweight
– Excessive alcohol or caffeine consumption
– Regular smoking
– Being over the age of 65
– Sleep deprivation or disturbed sleep
– Having a family history of high blood pressure
– Being of black African or black Caribbean descent
– Living in a deprived area
To reduce your blood pressure or prevent hypertension, you can make certain lifestyle changes.
These include:
– Engaging in regular exercise
– Monitoring your salt intake and ensuring you drink plenty of water
– Increasing your fiber intake and aiming for at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily
– Losing weight if your BMI is above 25
– Quitting smoking
– Reducing alcohol and caffeine consumption
– Prioritizing good sleep habits
Our Hypertension Service: Identifying and Supporting at-risk individuals Our Hypertension Service aims to identify individuals in our community who may be at risk of hypertension. By simply booking an appointment, you can have your blood pressure checked. Based on the results, we will provide you with advice on healthy living and, if necessary, refer you to the appropriate healthcare professionals.
The following individuals are eligible for this service:
– Adults aged 40 and above without a hypertension diagnosis
– Adults under the age of 40 with a family history of hypertension (subject to our pharmacist & discretion and appointment availability)
– Self-requested adults between the ages of 35-39 (subject to our pharmacists discretion and appointment availability)
Please note that we are unable to provide this service to patients who already have their blood pressure regularly monitored by a healthcare professional.
At The Precinct Pharmacy, we strive for excellence in clinical care, dedicated to meeting the healthcare needs of our local community. Our goal is to provide accessible healthcare services at the highest standard.
GPhC Registration Number:
1089354
GPhC Pharmacy Details:
The Precinct Pharmacy Unit 2 Shirley Shopping Prct Shirley High St
Southampton SO15 5LL
Please visit the relevant websites in the links below for information about how to check the registration status of the pharmacy and the superintendent pharmacist.
