Melton residents are being urged to check their blood pressure ahead of Australia’s Biggest Blood Pressure Check next week.
Chemmart stores across Melton are joining the National Stroke Foundation to offer free blood-pressure checks to residents through to Australia’s Biggest Blood Pressure Check on May 6.
Melton Chemmart Pharmacy Superstore pharmacist Tony Cox said the checks were fast and simple.
He said the checks, along with a cardiovascular and diabetes risk assessment, could help identify those at risk of stroke.
“We’re calling on locals to stop in for a free blood-pressure check,” Mr Cox said. “It will only take five minutes.”
More than 30,326 residents in the Lalor electorate are living with high blood pressure, according to a recent study by the National Stroke Foundation.
“High blood pressure is among the most important known risk factors for stroke, causing damage to blood vessel walls, which may eventually lead to a stroke,” Mr Cox said.
“High blood pressure has no symptoms – the only way to know your blood pressure is to have it checked.”
National Stroke Foundation chief executive Erin Lalor said the aim of the promotion was to deliver 15,000 free blood-pressure checks across the country and raise awareness of stroke and stroke risks.
“Last year, we delivered blood pressure, along with a cardiovascular and diabetes risk assessments, to more than 10,000 people and discovered around a quarter were at risk of having a stroke,” Dr Lalor said.
