PEOPLE in Warwickshire are being urged to prioritise their heart health by getting a free blood pressure test when they shop.
Tesco has partnered with the British Heart Foundation to encourage residents to take a moment for their wellbeing this Heart Month by visiting a Tesco pharmacy for a quick blood pressure check.
Latest information from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities estimates that one in 11 people in Warwickshire are living with undiagnosed high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is one of the leading risk factors for heart attacks and strokes. However, because high blood pressure often has no signs or symptoms, the only way to know is to get tested. When identified early, high blood pressure can be effectively managed, helping to protect long‑term health.
Tom Lye, category director for health and wellness at Tesco, said: “We want looking after your health to feel as simple as going into Tesco to do a shop. Our pharmacy teams are here to offer a quick, friendly blood pressure check – no fuss, no appointment needed. A few minutes in store can help to give peace of mind or get you support early if it’s needed.”
Tesco pharmacy teams offer the free walk-in and pre-booked 10‑minute blood pressure check, carried out in private consultation rooms. They will explain the results clearly and, if a raised reading is detected, guide customers towards the appropriate next steps or support. All Tesco pharmacists and pharmacy staff undergo specialist Let’s Talk training to help them speak to the public with sensitivity about heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.
The latest campaign, which has launched during Heart Month, builds on the partnership between Tesco and the British Heart Foundation, encouraging the public to fit a blood pressure check into their everyday routine.
Professor Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, added: “High blood pressure affects roughly one in three adults, yet many people remain unaware they have it because it usually presents no obvious signs. When it goes undetected, it can significantly raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes, which is why it’s so important for as many people as possible to get their blood pressure checked.
