People in Swindon are being encouraged to prioritise their heart health by getting a free blood pressure test while doing their weekly shop.
Tesco has partnered with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to offer quick, free blood pressure checks at the Tesco Extra pharmacy on Ocotal Way during Heart Month.
Latest figures from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities estimate that around 54,000 people in Wiltshire are living with undiagnosed high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is one of the leading risk factors for heart attacks and strokes. Because it often has no symptoms, the only way to know if you have it is to get tested. When identified early, it can be effectively managed to protect long-term health.
Tom Lye, Category Director for Health & Wellness at Tesco, said the aim is to make looking after your health “as simple as going into Tesco to do a shop”.
The Ocotal Way pharmacy offers both walk-in and pre-booked 10-minute checks in private consultation rooms. Results are explained clearly and, if a raised reading is detected, customers are guided towards appropriate next steps or further support. Pharmacy teams have completed specialist “Let’s Talk” training to help them speak sensitively about conditions including heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.
The campaign forms part of the wider Tesco Health Charity Partnership with the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK and Diabetes UK, launched in 2018. Until 1 March, customers can also round up their shop to the nearest £1 to raise money for the partnership.
Professor Bryan Williams OBE, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation, said high blood pressure affects around one in three adults, yet many are unaware they have it.
He said that while untreated high blood pressure can significantly increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, it can often be managed through lifestyle changes such as increased physical activity and reducing salt, fat and sugar intake, alongside medication where necessary.
He added that getting a check at a community location like a local Tesco is quick, straightforward and could be a vital step in protecting heart health.
A free blood pressure test at Tesco takes around 10 minutes, with pharmacy colleagues on hand to explain what the readings mean.
