Cardiff Metropolitan University is supporting May Measurement Month, a global research initiative, now in its third year, which aims to improve public awareness of high blood pressure.
Working in partnership with British Heart Foundation Cymru, partners are urging people to get their blood pressure tested, whether at home, in a pharmacy, or a GP surgery.
More than 200,000 people in Wales are unaware they are living with high blood pressure, according to new estimates from the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
If untreated, high blood pressure can significantly raise the risk of heart attack and stroke. It's also associated with an increased risk of vascular dementia.
High blood pressure, often referred to as a silent killer, does not usually have any symptoms, meaning that many people are unaware they are living with one of the risk factors most commonly associated with heart attacks and strokes.
However, if detected the condition can be easily treated by a combination of simple lifestyle changes and medication, depending on the individual.
Dr Barry McDonnell, Senior Lecturer in Physiology at Cardiff Metropolitan University, and May Measurement Month lead in Wales said:
"We are delighted that BHF Cymru is collaborating with us on this global MMM 2019 campaign, and we hope that though this partnership we are able to widen our reach and access more people around Wales in raising awareness about the risks associated with high blood pressure. We would encourage people all over Wales to get their blood pressure measured at any of the screening sites running throughout the month of May. These can be viewed on our www.mmmwales.com events calendar."
For more information please visit www.bhf.org.uk/checkyourpressure
To read this story in Welsh, click here.
