Blood Pressure UK

18/09/2026

Thanks to My Weekly magazine for helping spread the word about the importance of knowing your numbers and checking your blood pressure.

15/09/2026

Could Just 24 Minutes of Exercise a Week Help Lower Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure affects millions of people in the UK and is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. While regular physical activity is one of the most effective ways to reduce blood pressure, many people struggle to meet the NHS-recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week due to time, cost, or other barriers.

Isometric exercise offers a simple alternative. During isometric exercise, muscles contract without movement. For example, pressing your hands together activates your muscles without requiring any visible movement. Research has shown that isometric exercise can reduce blood pressure to a similar extent as more traditional forms of exercise such as walking, running, and resistance training.

At the University of Northampton, they have co-developed a home-based isometric exercise programme with people who have lived experience of high blood pressure. They are now recruiting adults across Northamptonshire to evaluate whether this simple intervention can reduce blood pressure in everyday, unsupervised settings.

Participants will receive a specially designed exercise band (ISOBand), an exercise booklet, and a training diary. The programme requires just 24 minutes of exercise per week, consisting of four 2-minute contractions separated by 2-minute rest periods, performed three times weekly for 12 weeks.

Blood pressure will be assessed at the start of the study, at the mid-point (6 weeks), and at the end-point (12 weeks), alongside a small number of mobility and functional assessments.

Participants will also be invited to share their experiences through questionnaires and an end-of-study interview.

As part of the recruitment process, individuals must first attend a free NHS-style Health Check or blood pressure screening event.

The study is open to adults aged 30-74 years with elevated blood pressure (above 130/85 mmHg) who have not been diagnosed with conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or previous cardiovascular disease. Individuals taking uncomplicated blood pressure medication may still be eligible.

They are currently recruiting participants and would be delighted to hear from anyone interested in taking part.

For more information, please contact:
[email protected]

14/09/2026

❤️ Do you know what atrial fibrillation is?

Atrial fibrillation, or AF, is an irregular and often unusually fast heart rhythm. For some people it can cause symptoms such as palpitations, breathlessness, dizziness or tiredness, while others may not notice any symptoms at all.

In this short video, Dr Suneeta Kochhar NHS Surrey and Sussex, explains what AF is, why it matters, and what you should know about the condition.

🎥 Watch Understanding Atrial Fibrillation (AF) here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ltIc-zFIiE

Understanding the signs and knowing when to seek advice can make an important difference.

00:34 What is AF?02:05 What causes AF?03:24 Symptoms of AF and di...

13/09/2026

As Know Your Numbers! Week comes to an end for another year, we hope you’ve seen some of our campaign and media coverage. But most importantly, we hope you’ve taken the time to get your blood pressure checked.

You can check it at home using a validated blood pressure monitor, at your local pharmacy, or through your GP practice.

Whatever your age, knowing your numbers is one of the simplest things you can do to look after your health.

High blood pressure usually has no obvious signs or symptoms, but if left undiagnosed and untreated, it can increase your risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney disease and vascular dementia.

The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to measure it.

Thank you to everyone who has supported Know Your Numbers! Week 2026. Please keep spreading the word and encourage a friend or family member to get checked too.

❤️ Know your numbers. It could make all the difference.

12/09/2026

High blood pressure usually has no obvious symptoms. That’s exactly what makes it so dangerous.

Too many people are waiting for a warning sign that may never come. By the time high blood pressure causes a stroke, heart attack, or serious kidney damage, the harm may already be irreversible.

And it’s not just an issue for older people.

Adults in their 20s and 30s need to know their numbers too.

A blood pressure check takes just a few minutes and can identify a serious health risk early enough to act.

This Know Your Numbers! Week, don’t wait until you feel unwell.

Know Your Numbers! It could save your life.

11/09/2026

Young adults across London are being urged not to wait until they feel unwell before checking their blood pressure, after new research revealed widespread misconceptions about who is at risk.

A poll commissioned by charity Blood Pressure UK found that 84% of Londoners aged 18 to 50 believe too many people wait until they feel unwell before having their blood pressure checked.

Despite this, fewer than half (49%) said they had been tested in the past year.

Don't wait to find out. Know Your Numbers! today

11/09/2026

Spread the word and tell your family and friends.

Blood Pressure UK urges every adult, no matter their age, to know their numbers and get their blood pressure checked regularly.

High blood pressure can affect people in their 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond, often without any obvious signs or symptoms.

You can check your blood pressure at home using a validated monitor, at a pharmacy, or through your GP practice.

So please encourage the people you care about to get checked too.

You know your age. Do you know your numbers?

10/09/2026

Ever wondered what your blood pressure numbers actually mean?

As part of Know Your Numbers! Week, Dr Pauline Swift, Chair of Blood Pressure UK, has been speaking to the Daily Express about why knowing your numbers is only part of the picture. You also need to understand what they mean.

Earlier this week, Pauline shared her guide to taking accurate blood pressure readings at home. Today, she explains how to interpret those readings and what your numbers could be telling you about your health.

You know your age. Do you know your numbers?

10/09/2026

When was the last time you had your blood pressure checked?

High blood pressure often has no obvious symptoms, so you may not know there's a problem until it has already started affecting your health.

As we get older, regular blood pressure checks become increasingly important. Drinking alcohol regularly above the UK Chief Medical Officers' low-risk drinking guidelines can also increase your risk of high blood pressure.

The good news is that small changes, including cutting back on alcohol and having regular drink-free days, can support your health.

This Know Your Numbers! Week, take a few minutes to check your blood pressure. ❤️

Find out more about checking and managing your blood pressure from Blood Pressure UK: https://www.bloodpressureuk.org

10/09/2026

Millions of adults in England are living with high blood pressure without knowing it, increasing their risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney disease, vascular dementia, and premature death. Don't wait to find out. Know Your Numbers! today.