The NHS Health Check is a health check-up for adults in England aged 40 to 74. It’s designed to spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes or dementia. As we get older, we have a higher risk of developing one of these conditions. An NHS Health Check helps find ways to lower this risk.
If you’re in the 40 to 74 age group without a pre-existing condition, you should receive a letter from your GP surgery or local council inviting you for a free NHS Health Check every 5 years. You can also call your GP surgery to book a Health Check. You may want to try this online Heart Age test.
Once you’ve had your NHS Health Check, your healthcare professional will discuss your results with you. You’ll be given advice to help you lower your risk of a stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes or dementia, and maintain or improve your health. But you do not have to wait until then to make healthy changes. Take the How Are You quiz and start now.
Home Blood Pressure
Why am I being asked to measure my blood pressure at home?
Home monitoring is very useful for a number of reasons:
To give a more accurate picture of what you blood pressure is like as you go about your daily life
To see if your blood pressure is higher in the clinic than it is at home
To allow you to see how your treatment is working for you
To alert your GP to unexpected changes in your readings, helping them to adjust your medications if required
To help pick out ‘white coat effect’ which can make your blood pressure higher than usual when it is taken in the clinic
Is measuring blood pressure at home the right thing for you?
Measuring blood pressure at home can be very useful and is now an important part of managing high blood pressure, but it is not for everyone. Some people become more anxious when they start measuring at home and end up taking readings far too often.
If you feel anxious you can discuss this with your doctor or nurse first. Before you decide to try measuring your blood pressure at home, ask yourself: is this going to make me feel more relaxed or more worried?
What do I need to do?
You will be asked to take two BP readings twice daily (morning and evening) for 7 days and drop them into or send them by email into your GP Practice. Your GP will review your average result and give you advice on any further readings or action if needed.
How to measure your own blood pressure
Many things can make your blood pressure rise for a short time. Before you take your reading:
Make sure that you do not need the toilet, and that you have not just eaten a big meal.
Do not measure your BP within 30 minutes of drinking caffeine or smoking, or immediately after exercise or drinking alcohol.
Make sure you are relaxed and comfortable. If you are anxious or uncomfortable, this will make your blood pressure rise temporarily
Wear loose fitting clothing like a short-sleeved t-shirt so you can push your sleeve up comfortably
Always use the same arm for readings as each arm will give you a slightly different reading
Before you take your readings, rest for a few minutes. You should be sitting down in a quiet place with your arm resting on a firm surface, palm facing upwards and feet flat on the floor
Make sure your arm is supported and the BP cuff around your arm is at the same level as your heart
Taking your reading
Put the cuff on following the instructions that come with your monitor
When you are taking your reading, keep still and silent. Moving and talking can affect your reading.
Take two readings about two minutes apart
Record the two readings – Do not round your measurement up or down, just write down the number that comes up on the monitor
Your blood pressure reading
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). It is written like this: 140/90mmHg which is said “140 over 90”. The first and highest number shows ‘systolic’ pressure when your heart beats and pushes the blood around your body. The second lower number shows the ‘diastolic’ pressure when your heart relaxes and refills with blood.
SYS = Systolic blood pressure
DIA = Diastolic blood Pressure
Irregular heart rate alert
The monitor will show this heart symbol ((♡)) as an alert if it detects your heart rate is abnormally fast or irregular. This can be an important early warning sign of heart problems so should not be ignored but can also be a sign of other normal conditions.
If you feel well and have no symptoms you should contact your GP as soon as possible for more checks. Make sure this is noted on your recording form.
If you have noticed a recent sudden increase in your heart rate and are feeling dizzy, faint or having palpitations (a feeling of being aware of your heartbeat, or that your heart is pounding or beating irregularly), you should go to A&E.
What do your blood pressure results mean – a general guide Locate your average readings along the line.
Aged under 80 years -average blood pressure readings
Aged 80 years or over – average blood pressure readings
Remember Do not be alarmed if you get an unexpected high value for either reading. A single blood pressure reading is not representative of your average resting blood pressure. Measure your blood pressure again at another time, but if you find that it continues to be high, contact your doctor or nurse.
What happens next?
Please send your results back to your GP.
A paper copy delivered or posted to your GP Practice
Email (if available)
Your GP will review your average result and give you advice on any further readings or action if needed.
What are the risk factors?
About 1 in 3 adults in Somerset has high blood pressure so it is fairly common.
Blood pressure tends to creep up as we get older. Males tend to have higher blood pressure than females. Some ethnic groups have an increased risk of high blood pressure.
The good news is that a number of lifestyle factors can also increase blood pressure and small changes in these can help bring your blood pressure down.
Medication
Some people will need to take medication prescribed by their doctor to lower their blood pressure. Today’s blood pressure tablets are very effective and can reduce your risk of stroke and heart attack.
For more information or advice
Visit the Healthy Somerset website for support on lifestyle change information on local services and useful apps www.HealthySomerset.co.uk/heart
Long Covid
As you find yourself recovering from COVID-19 you may still be coming to terms with the impact the virus has had on both your body and mind.
These changes should get better over time, some may take longer than others, but there are things you can do to help
Below are a number of helpful resources to aid your recovery.
Long Covid Resources
General Resources for Long Covid Patients
NHS self-management and supported self-management resource
HOPE programme for the South West: self-management programme for people in the South West region living with long-term conditions. NHS initiative – free online 2hr weekly for 6 weeks
