Rotary offers free blood pressure checks in South Ayrshire
Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, the Stroke Association and NHS Ayrshire & Arran have teamed up to help South Ayrshire residents take a moment and get their blood pressure tested. They will be hosting free blood pressure tests at Troon Old Parish Church between 10am and 12pm on Thursday 21 and Saturday 23 April 2016 to raise awareness of the link between high blood pressure and stroke
Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, the Stroke Association and NHS Ayrshire & Arran have teamed up to help South Ayrshire residents take a moment and get their blood pressure tested. They will be hosting free blood pressure tests at Troon Old Parish Church between 10am and 12pm on Thursday 21 and Saturday 23 April 2016 to raise awareness of the link between high blood pressure and stroke.
As well as having a blood pressure check, local residents in Troon will also receive advice on steps to keep it under control and reduce their stroke risk.
Elizabeth Barrie, Lead Nurse Stroke Services - NHS Ayrshire & Arran, said:
“Having a stroke can be devastating but people can reduce their risk significantly by paying attention to their blood pressure. These events are a great way to let people know about the link between high blood pressure and strokes - more than half of all strokes are caused by high blood pressure. It’s also a great opportunity for people to get their blood pressure checked, and find out how best to manage it.”
George McLachlan, President of Troon Rotary Club said: “Rotary is proud to support the Stroke Association’s Know Your Blood Pressure campaign because it is both simple and effective. The test takes a moment to do and could potentially save your life. Last year we held 1,680 events around the country and this year we are keen to reach even more people. We are grateful for the support of staff from NHS Ayrshire & Arran. This has been a real example of partnership working in our local community."
Alexis Wieroniey, Deputy Director of Policy and Influencing at the Stroke Association, said: “Having a regular blood pressure check is so important. Estimates suggest there could be almost seven million people with high blood pressure who are undiagnosed and at risk of having a stroke. Many people have high blood pressure without realising it because it often has no symptoms. High blood pressure is far more common than you would think and it can be deadly, but it is treatable. With events like this, together we can conquer stroke.”
In addition to the events taking place on 21 and 23 April 2016, there will be blood pressure checks throughout the year. To find your nearest blood pressure event, you can visit www.stroke.org.uk/kybp.