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Fitness professionals back Blood Pressure Week
Fitness professionals across the UK are signing up to a campaign to raise public awareness of the importance of knowing your blood pressure.
Known as the BPA National Blood Pressure Testing Week, the annual event, which this year runs from 13-19 September, gives the public the chance to have their blood pressure checked and find out how to lower it.
The event is part of the Blood Pressure Association’s (BPA) ongoing Know Your Numbers campaign, which encourages adults to know their blood pressure and highlights the serious health implications high blood pressure can have if not treated effectively.
As part of the BPA National Blood Pressure Testing Week, fitness professionals are signing up to run Pressure Stations, giving advice to where members of the public while they get their blood pressure taken.
“Taking part in the BPA’s campaign is an ideal opportunity to promote the importance of blood pressure whilst at the same time offering members and the local community a chance to check out some of the services we offer,” said Phil Garrett, general manager of Cannons Health Club in Farnham, Surrey.
Last year’s event saw more than 2,000 Pressure Stations across the UK test nearly 150,000 people.
During the week many people were found to have significantly raised blood pressure and were able to receive information and advice about appropriate action.
The Executive director of the BPA, Nickie Roberts, said: “Fitness professionals are ideally placed to promote the message that high blood pressure is serious but taking action is simple and has immense benefits for overall health.”