- Free evaluationA quick, easy reading with no charge
- Pop inCome by during store hours, or phone first to check a pharmacist is free
- Adults 18 and overHeart Foundation guidance is a reading no less than once every two years
Why it pays to know your numbers
High blood pressure means the pressure of blood on your artery walls stays higher than normal. The Heart Foundation calls it one of the main risk factors for heart disease, especially heart attacks and strokes. It has no obvious signs or symptoms, so you can have it without knowing. A reading is the only way to find out.
There is no single cause. Things that raise your chances include:
- a family history of high blood pressure
- eating patterns, including salty foods
- alcohol and smoking
- carrying extra weight
- how physically active you are
Making sense of a reading
Results are written as two figures, one above the other, such as 120/80 mm Hg. The top figure is your systolic blood pressure, the pressure in your arteries as the heart muscle contracts. The lower one is your diastolic blood pressure, measured while the heart rests between beats.
For most adults, a normal result sits under 120 systolic and under 80 diastolic. Your doctor will tell you the ideal target for you, based on your medical history.
Before you come in: stress, recent exercise, caffeine and even talking can push a result up for a while. Skip coffee and cigarettes for half an hour beforehand, and sit quietly for a few minutes once you arrive.
How often to have a blood pressure check in Abermain
From age 18, the Heart Foundation suggests getting your blood pressure measured at least every two years. Once you turn 45, it should also form part of a regular Heart Health Check with your GP, which looks at your overall risk.
A pharmacy visit fits easily between those appointments, and the pharmacist can note your figure for you to take to your doctor.
If your result is high
One raised figure does not mean you have hypertension. Blood pressure rises and falls naturally across the day, so a diagnosis belongs with your doctor. Book in with your GP if we find a high result.
Lifestyle changes such as eating less salt and drinking less alcohol can bring it down. The Heart Foundation recommends 30 minutes of physical activity on most days, with less time spent sitting, and some people also need medicine their doctor prescribes.
Because high blood pressure damages blood vessel walls, it is a leading stroke risk, and our stroke risk assessment covers the wider picture. People at risk of type 2 diabetes can add a finger-prick diabetes monitoring test on the same visit.
Questions people ask us
Can I monitor my blood pressure at home?
Yes, if your doctor asks you to. Use a validated blood pressure monitor, meaning one tested for accuracy. Australia has no register of these, but the Heart Foundation points to the list kept by the British and Irish Hypertension Society. Record each result in a diary for your next appointment.
What if someone's face droops or their speech slurs?
Those are two of the common signs of stroke in the Stroke Foundation's F.A.S.T. test. Do not come to the pharmacy for a reading: call 000 straight away.
Our other free screenings are listed on the health checks page.
Check your blood pressure today
Drop in to Abermain Chemist at 193 Cessnock Road. It takes only a few minutes, and you leave knowing your numbers.