PEOPLE across the district can help stave off heart attacks and strokes by having their blood pressure checked, according to a leading Bradford doctor.

NHS experts in the district have given their backing to the national Know Your Numbers! Week, which gets underway on Monday.

As part of the initiative, Bradfordians are being urged to visit their nearest ‘pressure station’ for a free blood pressure test or visit their local pharmacy or GP practice to get it checked out.

The national awareness campaign is being supported by Bradford Districts and Bradford City Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).

Dr Youssef Beaini, clinical lead for cardiovascular disease at Bradford Districts CCG, said: “High blood pressure is one of the largest causes of premature death and disability due to potentially fatal strokes, heart attacks, heart failure or even kidney failure it causes.

“However, it is largely preventable, over 120,000 heart attacks and strokes a year in the UK could be avoided if people lowered their blood pressure – the first step is a simple, painless, free, two minute test.

"By encouraging people to know their numbers, we can target high blood pressure in Bradford and offer advice on how to reduce it.”

Known as the silent killer, high blood pressure affects around 30 per cent of people across England. If undetected, it can lead to heart attack, stroke or even death.

Research from the Blood Pressure Association shows almost three quarters of adults do not know their blood pressure numbers, which means they are taking an unnecessary gamble with their health.

To help combat heart disease and strokes in people at risk, the CCG has developed a three-year Bradford’s Healthy Hearts campaign to tackle vascular disease, atrial fibrillation and heart failure.

So far, more than 5,000 patients have been changed to a more effective statin reducing the risk of stroke or heart attack, and patients are getting a more detailed assessment by their GPs. Medication has also been given to 500 people to massively reduce the risk of stroke in atrial fibrillation which is a condition caused by an irregular heartbeat.

Bradford’s Healthy Hearts has also started a programme to try to identify some of those people who have had high blood pressure in the past, inviting them for a further check-up at their GP practice if appropriate. A second part of the blood pressure programme will focus on trying to treat high blood pressure better.

Parts of the campaign are now being extended into the City area, so more patients benefit from early detection of problems and know more about how to stay healthy.

Know Your Numbers! week is the nation’s largest annual blood pressure testing and awareness event. It takes place in September each year and provides free checks for around 250,000 adults across the UK.

To find your local pressure station go to bloodpressureuk.org