Know Your Numbers! Week 2025: Why Getting Your Blood Pressure Checked Could Save Your Life
Every September, Blood Pressure UK runs the ‘Know Your Numbers’ week to raise awareness about high blood pressure and encourage people across the UK to get their blood pressure checked.
High blood pressure affects millions of people across the UK, yet many people have no idea they have it. This campaign plays a vital role in helping people understand their blood pressure, how to monitor it, and what those numbers actually mean for their health.
This year, ‘Know Your Numbers’ week runs from the 8th to the 16th of September in Nottingham & Nottinghamshire, so let’s dive into what high blood pressure is, how you can prevent it, and why a simple blood pressure check and quite literally save their life.
Hypertension: The Silent Killer
High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) is often referred to as the ‘silent killer’ because it rarely causes any symptoms, yet it significantly increases the risk of life-threatening health conditions such as:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Kidney failure
- Vascular dementia
According to Blood Pressure UK, around one in three adults in the UK have high blood pressure, but many don’t realise it. You can feel perfectly healthy and still have dangerously high blood pressure. The only way to know is to get it checked.
Why Knowing Your Numbers Matters
High blood pressure is both preventable and manageable, and early detection is key. Knowing your blood pressure numbers empowers you to take the right steps: whether that’s making lifestyle changes, monitoring regularly, or starting treatment under guidance of a healthcare professional.
Blood Pressure UK has been running the ‘Know Your Numbers’ campaign since 2007 and has since encouraged millions of people across the UK to check their blood pressure. Many of those people discovered, for the first time, that they were living with high blood pressure, and were able to take action before serious health problems developed.
This year, the campaign is once again urging people to take control of their health by checking their blood pressure at home or by popping along to their local community pharmacy for their free blood pressure check.
Check at Home or in Your Community
Home blood pressure tests are a convenient, accurate, and empowering way to track your readings regularly, especially important if you can’t easily get to a GP or pharmacy.
But you don’t need to rely on home testing alone. Community pharmacies across the UK continue to offer walk-in blood pressure checks, and during Know Your Numbers! Week, pop-up events and extra resources will be promoted to make it even easier to get tested.
Local and Further Afield
The campaign is backed by the NHS and a wide range of local health organisations. NHS Nottinghamshire, for example, will be hosting community events throughout the city, offering free health checks and sharing vital information about this often-overlooked condition.
These local initiatives are crucial for making the campaign accessible and inclusive, helping to reach people in every part of the country, especially those who may not otherwise seek out a check-up.
Who Should Get Checked?
In short: Everyone.
High blood pressure can affect anyone, regardless of how fit or healthy they may feel. While certain risk factors make some people more likely to develop hypertension, that doesn’t mean others are safe from risk. Nor does having risk factors mean you will definitely develop high blood pressure.
High Risk Factors:
- Age: Risk increases with age, particularly over 40
- Family History: A history of high blood pressure or heart disease
- Medical Conditions: Such as diabetes or kidney disease
- Ethnicity: Higher risk for Black African, Black Caribbean, or South Asian backgrounds
- Chronic Stress: Long-term stress can affect blood pressure
- Lifestyle Factors: Including smoking, high salt intake, obesity, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol use
Even if you’ve had normal readings in the past, your blood pressure can change over time due to stress, diet, activity levels, or other health issues. That’s why regular checks are no important.
Take Action This September
You can check your blood pressure without waiting for a GP appointment. During ‘Know Your Numbers’ week, take a few minutes to get checked, either at home using a monitor or at your local pharmacy.
If you’re unsure how to take your blood pressure at home, use our simple step-by-step guide to do it accurately. Blood Pressure UK and NHS resources are also available to help you understand your readings and what to do next.
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The Bottom Line
Your blood pressure isn’t just a number. It’s a reflection of your current and future health. ‘Know Your Numbers’ week is a reminder that taking a few minutes to check your blood pressure could prevent a heart attack, stroke, or other serious illness. It might even save your life.
So, this September, make it your mission to check your numbers, and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Because when you know your numbers, you’re in control.