More than 50,000 people in Liverpool do not realise they have high blood pressure – and now a new campaign is urging local residents to get it checked.

High blood pressure is second only to smoking as the highest risk factor in causing premature death and disability, and is the most common long term health condition.

Around 15 percent of people in Liverpool have been diagnosed with high blood pressure – 68,214 – but it is believed one in four of the population has the condition, meaning there are another 52,645 residents unaware they are at risk.

Know Your Numbers is a national campaign which runs from 12 – 18 September and aims to encourage people to get their blood pressure checked.

Director of Public Health in Liverpool, Dr Sandra Davies, said:

“High blood pressure is a silent killer and many people just do not know that they are at risk.

“It can be a ticking time bomb and lead to conditions such as a stroke or heart disease but the good news is that it can easily be treated by improving diet, losing weight or taking exercise.

“All we’re asking people to do is pop into a number of selected pharmacies across the city who will take their blood pressure free of charge and get some advice about how to stay healthy.”

A list of local pharmacies can be found at http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/microsites/kyn/Home/Freebpchecks/Findfreecheck

People wanting to improve their health can join the Fit for Me campaign being run by NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group and Liverpool City Council. It aims to inspire and get everyone more active in Liverpool by doing as little as ten minutes more activity, getting off the bus a stop earlier or simply taking the stairs instead of the lift.

Join in with free local activities, special offers and motivational support at www.FitForMe.info, like it on Facebook www.facebook.com/FitForMeLpool,  follow on Twitter @FitforMeLpool or access the Fit for Me quiz at http://www.fitforme.info/how-active-am-i/