| Celebrity angler Matt Hayes supported the Birmingham Health and Wellbeing Partnership’s blood pressure campaign by getting his own blood pressure checked at Saturday’s Go Fishing Event held at Birmingham’s NEC. Getting your blood pressure checked is a quick and easy procedure that can save lives. A campaign is currently underway to encourage men over 40 in the Birmingham area to get their blood pressure checked by their GP.
Fishing is an excellent way to enjoy the great outdoors and take part in some gentle exercise which helps towards lowering blood pressure. Levels of high blood pressure in Birmingham men are thought to be higher than the national average (one in five), contributing to our lower male life expectancy. People do not realise they have high blood pressure because there are no visible symptoms but it can lead to many problems if it is not checked. A check only takes five minutes at a time of your convenience. Diseases of the circulatory system are the most common causes of death for men in Birmingham, with coronary heart disease (CHD) posing a major threat. Hypertension or high blood pressure is a major risk factor contributing to CHD. By encouraging men over 40 to get their blood pressure tested helps to identify and treat CHD earlier. Chris Spencer-Jones, Director of Public Health for South Birmingham Primary Care Trust, explained: “Blood is pumped from the heart through the arteries out to our muscles and organs. Put simply, too much pressure puts a strain on the arteries and vital organs, including the heart itself. “We want people to enjoy a long and healthy life and the simple test we want those over 40 to take can go a long way in prolonging their lives. In this case, just five minutes can quite literally buy you years.” Blood pressure can be maintained at a healthy level in most people through regular exercise, low salt consumption and low alcohol intake. For more information go to www.getyourschecked.co.uk. |
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