 |
||
|
North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust |
||
| Home | Search | Content |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
You are in: Advice and Information > Find the 5,000
|
Patient Relations 0800 06 88 000 |
|
Patient Choice 01423 876420 |
Advice and Information
Find the 5,000 across North Yorkshire and York
Clinicians
across North Yorkshire and York are searching for around 5,000 people
who have undiagnosed hypertension or high blood pressure. The campaign,
called Find the 5,000, is specifically targeting people over 40 years
old who have not had a blood pressure check in the last five years.
Dr Bruce Willoughby, consultant in public health at NHS North Yorkshire and York, explains: “We have done some research which shows that there are around 5,000 people across North Yorkshire and York who are likely to have undiagnosed hypertension or high blood pressure who we could manage better.
“High blood pressure doesn’t usually have any obvious symptoms but people over 40 years old tend to be more at risk. The only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to get your blood pressure checked at your GP practice.
“Having high blood pressure means that your heart
has to work harder to pump blood around your body. Over time, this can
weaken your heart. The increased pressure can also damage the walls of
your arteries, causing them to be blocked or an artery to split.
Ultimately this can lead to heart disease, heart attack or stroke.”
Dr Vicky Pleydell, Chair of NHS North Yorkshire and York’s Clinical Executive and GP at Harewood Medical Practice in Catterick Garrison, said: “We are asking anyone over 40 who hasn’t had a blood pressure check in the last five years to contact their GP surgery and arrange to get tested.
“If we can reach these 5,000 potentially undiagnosed patients we could prevent around 120 cases of cardiovascular disease and the associated admissions to hospital over the next five years.”
NHS North Yorkshire and York’s Find the 5,000 campaign will also address a number of the issues raised in a recent report by North Yorkshire County Council’s Scrutiny of Health Committee and Care and Independence Overview and Scrutiny Committee entitled “Under Pressure – an investigation into stroke awareness and recognition.”
North Yorkshire County Councillor Tony Hall, who wrote the report, said: “Stroke is the third highest cause of death and high blood significantly increases the chances of having one. But the condition can be managed so I welcome this campaign and urge anyone over 40 and who hasn’t had a blood pressure check in the last five years to arrange one at their GP practice as soon as possible.”
What is High Blood Pressure or Hypertension?
Stroke Awareness report
Download North Yorkshire County Council’s report on stroke awareness entitled “Under Pressure – An investigation into stroke awareness and recognition”.
Resources for health professionals
The Stroke Association offer a short e-learning programme for health professionals on the symptoms and effects of a stroke. To find out more, download this leaflet.
