Liverpool Lighthouse volunteer wins September's blood pressure prize

Congratulations to one of our volunteers here at Liverpool Lighthouse, who has won the prize for carrying out the most blood pressure checks in September!

The prize was part of Public Health Liverpool's Know Your Numbers drive, which encourages people across the city to get their blood pressure checked. Our sessions are run with Liverpool City Council's public health team, through its Community Blood Pressure Champions programme, which trains and equips staff and volunteers in local organisations to offer checks in their communities.

Our winning volunteer couldn't be with us on the day, so Esther, one of our Creative Influencers, accepted the prize on their behalf.

Come and get your numbers checked!

Our free blood pressure drop-in sessions run every Tuesday and Wednesday, 10am to 12pm, during term time. Our space is warm and friendly, and our volunteers will make you feel welcome whether it's your first time through the door or you come along regularly.

Why it's important to check your blood pressure

High blood pressure, or hypertension, often has no symptoms and can lead to heart attack and stroke. The good news is that it's preventable with a balanced, healthy lifestyle and, when identified early, can be treated with medication to help control it.

• Premature deaths from cardiovascular disease are higher in Liverpool than elsewhere in the country, and within the city, higher in the more deprived postcode areas.

• People with a black or south Asian ethnicity are known to be at higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

• Current estimates suggest that there are around 47,000 Liverpool residents who are unaware that they have high blood pressure.

• The NHS recommends that adults have their blood pressure checked at least every 5 years, and at least once a year if you have hypertension.

A quick check is a simple first step, and our volunteers can point you towards local support if you'd like to talk about lifestyle changes.