Know Your Numbers Week — Why Checking Your Blood Pressure Could Save Your Life
- Homelium
- 6 days ago
- 7 min read
Know Your Numbers Week — Why Checking Your Blood Pressure Could Save Your Life
Every year, thousands of people across the UK are living with high blood pressure without knowing it. No symptoms. No warning signs. Just a silent condition quietly putting enormous strain on the heart, the brain and the body, until one day, it isn't silent anymore.
Know Your Numbers Week, run annually by Blood Pressure UK, exists to change that. It is one week each year dedicated to encouraging people across the UK to get their blood pressure checked, understand what their numbers mean and take action where needed.
And for older adults and their families, it is one of the most important health awareness campaigns of the year.
What Is Blood Pressure And Why Does It Matter?
Blood pressure is the force that your blood exerts against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps it around your body. It is measured in two numbers, systolic pressure (the pressure when your heart beats) and diastolic pressure (the pressure between beats) and expressed as one number over another. For example, 120/80mmHg.
The NHS considers a healthy blood pressure to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is generally defined as 140/90mmHg or above.
Blood pressure matters because it is one of the most significant risk factors for some of the most serious health conditions affecting older adults:
Stroke — high blood pressure is the single biggest risk factor for stroke in the UK
Heart attack — sustained high blood pressure puts enormous strain on the heart over time
Heart failure — the heart has to work harder against increased pressure, gradually weakening it
Kidney disease — high blood pressure damages the delicate blood vessels in the kidneys
Vascular dementia — high blood pressure is strongly linked to damage to the blood vessels in the brain
The frightening thing about high blood pressure is that it almost never causes symptoms. Most people have no idea their blood pressure is dangerously high until something goes wrong. That is why checking it regularly, particularly as we age, is so important.
Why Older Adults Are Particularly at Risk
Blood pressure tends to rise naturally with age. The blood vessels become stiffer and less elastic over time, which means the heart has to work harder to push blood through them. This makes high blood pressure significantly more common in older adults and significantly more dangerous.
According to the NHS, around one in three adults in the UK has high blood pressure. Among those aged over 65, that figure rises significantly. And yet many older adults, particularly those who feel well and have no obvious symptoms, are unaware that their blood pressure needs attention.
There are several factors that make older adults more vulnerable to high blood pressure and its consequences:
Reduced activity levels- Physical activity helps keep blood pressure in a healthy range. As mobility declines in older age, the protective effect of regular movement is reduced.
Diet and nutrition- A diet high in salt, which is common in many convenience and processed foods, is strongly linked to high blood pressure. Older adults who rely on pre-prepared meals or who have lost interest in cooking may be consuming more salt than they realise.
Medication interactions- Many older adults take multiple medications, some of which can affect blood pressure. It is important that GPs and carers are aware of all medications being taken and any potential interactions.
Stress and isolation- Chronic stress and loneliness, both of which are common among older adults living alone, have a measurable impact on blood pressure over time.
Underlying health conditions- Conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease and sleep apnoea are all associated with higher blood pressure and are more common in older adults.
What Are the Symptoms of High Blood Pressure?
This is where it gets important and where many families are caught off guard.
In the vast majority of cases, high blood pressure has no symptoms at all. It does not cause headaches, dizziness or tiredness in most people, despite what is commonly believed. The only way to know whether blood pressure is high is to have it measured.
Occasionally, very severely elevated blood pressure can cause symptoms including severe headaches, blurred vision, chest pain or shortness of breath. If your loved one experiences any of these, seek medical attention immediately.
But for the vast majority of people with high blood pressure, including those whose levels have been elevated for years, there are no warning signs whatsoever. Which is exactly why Know Your Numbers Week matters so much.
How to Get Blood Pressure Checked
Getting a blood pressure check is simple, free and quick. Here are the options available:
GP surgery- Any GP surgery can carry out a blood pressure check, either as part of a routine appointment or as a standalone check. If your loved one has not had their blood pressure checked recently, this is the best place to start.
Pharmacies- Many high street pharmacies offer free blood pressure checks without an appointment. This is a particularly accessible option for those who find it difficult to get a GP appointment quickly.
Home blood pressure monitors- A validated home blood pressure monitor, available from pharmacies and online from around £20–£30, allows your loved one to check their blood pressure regularly at home. Home monitoring over a period of days or weeks actually gives a more accurate picture of blood pressure than a single reading taken in a surgery, where anxiety can temporarily elevate the numbers.
NHS Health Check- Anyone aged between 40 and 74 who has not been diagnosed with certain health conditions is entitled to a free NHS Health Check every five years, which includes a blood pressure check. Speak to your GP surgery to find out whether your loved one is eligible.
What the Numbers Mean
Understanding blood pressure readings can feel confusing. Here is a simple guide:
Reading | Category | What it means |
Below 90/60 | Low | Worth discussing with a GP |
90/60 — 120/80 | Ideal | Healthy range |
120/80 — 140/90 | Pre-high | Worth monitoring closely |
140/90 or above | High | Speak to a GP |
180/120 or above | Very high | Seek medical attention promptly |
A single high reading does not necessarily mean someone has hypertension, blood pressure can fluctuate throughout the day depending on activity, stress and other factors. But consistently high readings over time warrant medical attention and, in many cases, treatment.
What Can Be Done About High Blood Pressure?
The good news is that high blood pressure is highly treatable and in many cases, manageable through lifestyle changes before medication is even needed.
Lifestyle changes that can reduce blood pressure:
Reducing salt intake — the single most effective dietary change. The NHS recommends no more than 6g of salt per day for adults
Eating more fruit and vegetables — a diet rich in potassium helps counteract the effects of salt on blood pressure
Staying hydrated — dehydration can temporarily raise blood pressure, making regular fluid intake important
Gentle regular exercise — even a daily short walk has a measurable positive effect on blood pressure over time
Reducing alcohol intake — alcohol raises blood pressure significantly, particularly when consumed regularly
Managing stress — relaxation techniques, social connection and reducing sources of anxiety all have a positive effect
Stopping smoking — smoking damages blood vessels and raises blood pressure with every cigarette
Medication- For those whose blood pressure remains elevated despite lifestyle changes, GPs can prescribe a range of effective medications, including ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers and diuretics, that bring blood pressure safely down to a healthy range. These medications are generally well tolerated and can dramatically reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack.
How Homelium Carers Support Healthy Blood Pressure
At Homelium, our carers play an important and often underappreciated role in supporting the cardiovascular health of the older adults they look after, even where blood pressure is not part of a formal care plan.
Here is how our carers make a difference:
Encouraging hydration- As part of our Stay Hydrated, Stay Well campaign, Homelium carers encourage regular fluid intake on every single visit, reducing the dehydration that can temporarily elevate blood pressure and lead to more serious health events.
Supporting good nutrition- Our carers prepare nutritious meals, encourage a balanced diet and help where possible to reduce reliance on high-salt convenience foods, all of which support healthy blood pressure over time.
Encouraging gentle movement- Whether it is a short walk, some gentle stretching or simply encouraging a client to move from room to room rather than remaining seated all day, our carers support the physical activity that keeps blood pressure in a healthy range.
Medication management- Our carers ensure that blood pressure medications and all other prescribed medications, are taken correctly and on time, every single day. For older adults managing multiple prescriptions, this consistency can be genuinely life-saving.
Noticing and flagging concerns- Our carers spend regular, consistent time with their clients and get to know them deeply. They are often the first to notice changes in colour, energy, breathing or behaviour that might suggest a blood pressure related concern and they flag these to families and healthcare professionals promptly.
Reducing isolation and loneliness- Chronic loneliness has a measurable and significant impact on blood pressure over time. The companionship and genuine human connection our carers provide is not just good for mental health, it is good for cardiovascular health too.
Know Your Numbers — This Week and Every Week
Know Your Numbers Week is a reminder, but the message it carries applies every week of the year.
If your loved one has not had their blood pressure checked recently, now is the perfect time to arrange it. If they have been told their blood pressure is high but have not followed up, now is the time to do something about it. And if you are worried about how they are managing at home, whether that relates to blood pressure, medication, nutrition or simply not having someone keeping a close eye on them, Homelium Care is here to help.
A free, no-obligation conversation with our team costs nothing. And it could make all the difference.
Contact our friendly team by calling directly on 📞 0333 3448 677
Every new client also receives a free care assessment and 2 hours of complimentary home care — so you can experience Homelium for yourself before committing to anything 💙
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