Lancashire optometrist urges community to prioritise blood pressure checks
A Wigan optometrist is advising patients in and around the local community on the importance of taking care of their wider health and getting their blood pressure checked.
In the UK, approximately a third of the population has high blood pressure, yet 50 per cent of those individuals remain undiagnosed.
Left untreated, high blood pressure can significantly increase the risk of serious health complications, including strokes and brain haemorrhages.
To help raise awareness, Suzanne Dennis Optometrist has partnered with local charity, the Natalie Kate Moss Trust (NKMT), offering free blood pressure monitoring through March and April to every patient attending appointments across its three practices in Wigan and Chorley.
Monitors will be positioned in each practice location, accompanied by information on how to check blood pressure correctly.
Team members have also undergone training to guide patients through the process, and results will be sent by email along with further information, resources, and links to book a GP appointment if needed.
The Natalie Kate Moss Trust was launched in 2012 by the Moss family following the sudden death of Natalie at the age of 26 following an unexpected brain haemorrhage. The charity aims to help people understand how to prevent lifestyle-related brain haemorrhages from occurring while generating funds for ground-breaking research to treat them when they do.
Fiona Moss at the Natalie Kate Moss Trust said: “High blood pressure is one of the main risk factors for brain haemorrhages - as well as countless other conditions - yet a third of the population has high blood pressure and 50 per cent of those people are undiagnosed and therefore completely unaware of the risk they are at.
“By working in partnership with Suzanne Dennis, we hope that we can not only drive more awareness of the importance of checking your blood pressure (and therefore managing it correctly) but also giving people the opportunity to do so.”
As healthcare professionals, optometrists are uniquely placed to observe the tiny blood vessels at the back of the eye during routine examinations. Changes to these vessels can often be one of the earliest visible signs of high blood pressure.
Joe Higham, co-director of Suzanne Dennis Optometrist, said: “Many people don’t realise that your eyes can reveal early signs of wider health issues. As optometrists, we’re often able to see changes in and around your eyes that can indicate an array of problems elsewhere.
“By offering blood pressure monitoring in practice, we’re making it easier for people to spot potential issues early. It’s about joining the dots between eye health and overall health, and supporting our community to take preventative steps before more serious problems develop.”
To find out more about the Natalie Kate Moss Trust, please visit www.nataliekatemoss.co.uk