Kwik Fit Drives Lifesaving Campaign: Revving Up Blood Pressure Awareness Alongside Tyre Pressure Checks
Kevin Thorpe | Wednesday 20th March 2024 9:54am
- UK’s leading car servicing and repair company Kwik Fit is joining forces with Well Pharmacy to back an NHS campaign to tackle the ‘silent killer’ high blood pressure
- Kwik Fit in Stretford in Manchester and Well Pharmacy provided blood pressure checks for all staff and customers in centre
- This comes as new research shows a worrying 1 in 10 over 40s in England have NEVER had a blood pressure check, compared to just 3 per cent who have never had a tyre pressure check
- Just as you wouldn’t drive with the wrong tyre pressure, you shouldn’t ignore your blood pressure, says Kwik Fit
Staff and customers at Kwik Fit in Stretford in Manchester have received blood pressure checks, in a bid to help find the ‘missing millions’ with undiagnosed high blood pressure. The blood pressure ‘drive’ was held in collaboration with Well Pharmacy, as part of the NHS ‘Get Your Blood Pressure Checked’ campaign.
Up to 4.2 million people in England – including thousands in the North West – may unknowingly live with undiagnosed high blood pressure. The ‘silent killer’ often has no symptoms but if left untreated, can lead to fatal heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and vascular dementia. Despite its stealthy nature, checking blood pressure is as straightforward as assessing tyre pressure. If you’re aged 40 and over then you can get your blood pressure checked for free at your local participating pharmacy, with no need to book an appointment.
Despite this, new research commissioned for the campaign shows that a worrying 1 in 10 (9 per cent) over 40s have NEVER had a blood pressure check, compared to just 3% who have never had a tyre pressure check. [1]
This follows statistics released by the NHS last week showed that mistakenly one in six (seventeen per cent) of those surveyed have put off having a blood pressure check because they don’t feel unhealthy or stressed and only one in 14 respondents (7 per cent) from the North West thought the condition has no symptoms. [2]
Roger Griggs, Communications Director at Kwik Fit, said: “Just as you wouldn’t drive with flat or over inflated tyres, you shouldn’t ignore your blood pressure. It’s worrying to see how many people say they’ve never had their blood pressure checked, as it’s the only way to know whether you are affected by high blood pressure. Kwik Fit is proud to be supporting the NHS ‘Get Your Blood Pressure Checked’ campaign, which will have a lifesaving impact. Usually when we discuss pressure readings with customers we are focused on tyre care, but today we want to highlight the importance of blood pressure checks for drivers themselves. Unlike an underinflated tyre, high blood pressure often has no symptoms, so we are encouraging our customers and staff who are over 40 and eligible to get their blood pressure checked for free in their local participating pharmacy.”
Ifti Khan, Pharmacy Superintendent for Well Pharmacy said: “We are delighted to be supporting the NHS Blood Pressure Check campaign with Kwik Fit to raise awareness of the importance of regularly checking your blood pressure. High blood pressure has very few noticeable symptoms – which is why it is known as the ‘silent killer’, but regular monitoring and simple lifestyle changes can be lifesaving. Well pharmacies offer free blood pressure checks to the over 40s in England and campaigns like this one highlight just how quick and easy it is to get yours checked”.
Find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks near you by searching “pharmacy blood pressure check” or visiting the NHS website here.
[1] Blood pressure checks compared to tyre pressure checks, details below
[2] NHS regional data, details below
Note to editors
About Kwik Fit
Established in 1971, the Kwik Fit Group is one of the largest independent automotive parts, repair and replacement specialists in the world. Kwik Fit has over 600 service centres across the UK and more than 200 mobile tyre fitting vehicles, making it the UK’s leading tyre, exhaust, brake and MoT specialist. Details of its range of products and services can be found at kwik-fit.com
Further Information
High blood pressure is one of the largest known risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which causes one in four deaths in England - around one death every four minutes.
All adults should have a check at least once every five years but are eligible for a free check at any time provided that they have not been diagnosed with high blood pressure or had a check in the last 6 months.
The ’Get Your Blood Pressure Checked’ drive supports the ambitions of the NHS Long Term Plan, which focuses on tackling health inequalities and the prevention of ill health and aims to prevent 150,000 strokes, heart attacks and dementia over the course of 10 years by raising awareness and diagnosis of high blood pressure. With CVD-related healthcare costs alone in England amounting to an estimated £7.4 billion per year, and annual costs to the wider economy being an estimated £15.8 billion, this new initiative could save millions of lives and pounds.
The latest drive is part of a national NHS campaign, including new advertising encouraging people eligible to come forward for a free blood pressure test at their local pharmacy, without the need to book in advance. This includes TV, video on demand (VOD), outdoor posters, social media and multicultural community TV.
Facts and Stats
Risk factors
It's not always clear what causes high blood pressure, but there are things that can increase your risk. You might be more at risk if you:
- are over 65 years old
- are overweight
- do not do enough exercise
- drink too much alcohol
- drink too much coffee (or other caffeine-based drinks)
- eat too much salt and do not eat enough fruit and vegetables
- smoke
- have a lot of stress
- have a relative with high blood pressure
- are from Black African or Black Caribbean communities
- live in a deprived area
Diagnosis and treatment
If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, the good news is there are things you can do to reverse it and help stop serious consequences in the future.
High blood pressure can be easily reversed either with medication and/or lifestyle changes. Some lifestyle changes will lower your blood pressure in a matter of weeks, while others may take longer. Try to:
- cut your salt intake to less than 6g (0.2oz) a day, which is about a teaspoonful
- eat a low-fat, balanced diet – including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables
- be active
- cut down on alcohol
- lose weight
- drink less caffeine
- stop smoking
You can read tips to help with those lifestyle changes or download free NHS apps to lose weight, quit smoking, get active or drink less on the Better Health section of the NHS website.
Research Methodology
Brand Tracking - All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2104 adults of which 1120 were from England and aged over 40. Fieldwork was undertaken between 4th March - 5th March 2024. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).
NHS - The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,109 consumers across England aged 40 and over. The data has been weighted to be nationally representative based on age, gender and region. The data was collected between 12.02.2024 and 19.02.2024. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.
