Know your Numbers Week (Blood Pressure): 8th-14th September 2025

Every September, blood pressure checks are taken by thousands to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Around 5 million adults aged 18–64 in the UK could be living with undiagnosed high blood pressure – a major risk factor for stroke, heart attack, kidney disease, and early death. Often called the ‘silent killer’, high blood pressure has no symptoms, yet it is the single biggest preventable cause of death in the UK.

Know your Numbers Week aims to reach those who have high blood pressure but are not aware, so that they can get the support they need to bring it under control.

High blood pressure is very common, especially in older adults. There are usually no symptoms, so you may not realise you have it.

Things that increase your chances of having high blood pressure include:

Your age – you’re more likely to get high blood pressure as you get older
Having close relatives with high blood pressure
Your ethnicity – you’re at higher risk if you have a Black African, Black Caribbean or South Asian ethnic background
Having an unhealthy diet – especially a diet that’s high in salt
Being overweight
Smoking
Drinking too much alcohol
Feeling stressed over a long period

Get your blood pressure checked at a pharmacy or GP surgery if:

You think you might have high blood pressure or might be at risk of having high blood pressure
You’re aged 40 or over and have not had your blood pressure checked for more than 5 years

Some pharmacies may charge for a blood pressure check.