By Frankie Barron

A blood pressure charity will be launching free testing stations to help people in Dorset living with undiagnosed high blood pressure.

‘Know your numbers week’ is an initiative created by Blood Pressure UK to find ‘missing millions,’ as nearly six million people in the UK and nearly 5,000 in Dorset do not know they have the condition.

Known as the ‘silent killer’ high blood pressure has no symptoms and is the biggest single cause of death in the UK, according to the charity.

The organisations says people won’t know they have it unless they have a check.

Around 1 in 4 people in the UK are living with high blood pressure and unhealthy lifestyles and poor diets are contributing to more young people being diagnosed, according to Blood Pressure UK.

The event, which will take place between September 9-15, will be the biggest free blood pressure testing event.

There will be ‘pressure stations’ in Dorset to encourage people to take a simple, painless test so that they can take the necessary steps towards a healthy life.

Katharine Jenner, CEO of Blood Pressure UK said diseases caused by high blood pressure, including strokes, heart disease and kidney disease, cost the NHS more than £2.1 billion every year.

She added: “The majority of the UK population would benefit by improvements in diet and lifestyle such as eating less salt, more fruit and vegetables and doing more exercise, and once you know you are at risk, you are much more likely to take action. So if you are one of the missing 6 million with high blood pressure, simply having a 5 minute check could add an extra healthy month to your life, helping you to live well for longer.”

Professor Graham MacGregor, Chairman of Blood Pressure UK said: “High blood pressure (hypertension) is very easy to treat and the vast majority of patients feel completely fine on medication – yet 55% of patients in Dorset with high blood pressure do not take their prescribed medicines properly and are at a higher risk."

To find your nearest blood pressure testing station visit bloodpressureuk.org