LONDON, September 14, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of Cardiff residents are being urged to roll up their sleeves on Wednesday 15 September as the Welsh capital gets set to attempt the Guinness World Record for the most blood pressures tested in one day. Rhodri Morgan AM and former First Minister is launching the attempt, which is also being backed by Welsh Weather Presenter Siân Lloyd.
UK charity the Blood Pressure Association is hoping to break the World Record as part of Know your Numbers! Week, its UK-wide campaign, running 13-19 September.
Over 20 nurses from Caer Health Services and other volunteers will be working non-stop in St David's shopping centre, Cardiff to take more than 2,075 different blood pressures within just eight hours. To break the current Guinness World Record, recorded in 2009 in Oviedo, Florida, they'll need to check at least 13 people each per hour!
One in three UK adults have high blood pressure, yet almost three quarters don't know their blood pressure numbers, according to research from the Blood Pressure Association[1]. As the leading cause of stroke and heart attack this symptomless condition is a 'silent killer'. The only way to detect risk is with regular blood pressure checks, but once detected it can be successfully managed.
Sue Massey, Deputy Executive Director of UK charity the Blood Pressure Association, said: We're really excited to be attempting the World Record in Cardiff during Know your Numbers! Week.
We're urging Cardiff commuters, city workers and locals to join the fun and help us make record-breaking history. At the same time they'll also be having potentially life-saving checks as undiagnosed high blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke and heart attack.
If you can't get down to St David's, Cardiff, there are 1,400 other 'Pressure Stations' being held in supermarkets, pharmacies, markets and other community venues across the nation throughout Know your Numbers! Week (13-19 September).
Find out where you can get your free blood pressure check by visiting http://www.bpassoc.org.uk or calling +44(0)20-8772-4994. ---------------------------------
[1] 103,000 adults had a free blood pressure check during Know your Numbers! 2009 (7-13 September). Research is based on a sample of 24,142 readings.
SOURCE: The Blood Pressure Association
CONTACT: Notes to Editors: For quotes from Rhodri Morgan, Siân Lloyd orCaer Health Services, or for information on Know your Numbers! Week,contact Anna in the Blood Pressure Associations Press Office on+44(0)20-8772-4993/4984 or email acureton@sgul.ac.uk
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