How's Thi Ticker?
Hows Thi Ticker? is a Barnsley born and bred campaign. We have a friendly team of advisors who measure blood pressure in the community. They'll cut through the jargon and explain your readings to you in a heartbeat.
Measuring your blood pressure couldn’t be easier and is the only way to know whether you have high blood pressure. High blood pressure usually has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it. It takes a couple of minutes to get a reading and its painless.
Why it's important to check your blood pressure
Your arteries are normally stretchy so they can cope with your blood pressure going up and down. But with high blood pressure, your arteries lose their stretchiness, becoming stiff or narrow. This narrowing makes it easier for fatty material to build up. If this happens to the arteries lining your heart or brain it could trigger a life-threatening heart attack or stroke.
Find out more about high blood pressure.
How to reduce your blood pressure
Cut down on alcohol
Did you know drinking too much alcohol will raise your blood pressure over time, and heavy drinking raises it further.
Barnsley recovery steps can help you reduce your alcohol intake.
Quit smoking
Each cigarette you smoke causes a temporary rise in blood pressure. Within half an hour of your last cigarette, your heart rate and blood pressure typically drop to normal levels.
The Barnsley team at Yorkshire Smokefree Service can help you quit smoking.
Be active
Being active lowers your blood pressure by keeping your heart and blood vessels in good shape. This lowers your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Visit What's Your Move for more information about being active.
Manage your weight
Being overweight forces your heart to work harder to pump blood around your body, which can raise your blood pressure.
Find out how to manage your weight on our on the NHS eat well website.
Get your blood pressure checked
Locations
Take a look at our Facebook page to find out where you can have your bloody pressure measured.
If you'd like to contact the team or to ask them to attend your community event or work place please email howsthiticker@barnsley.gov.uk
Workplace heart health checks
We're working in partnership with BPL to offer free workplace heart health checks. These are a comprehensive assessment of an employee's health and wellbeing. They cover a wide range of health indicators such as :
- Blood pressure checks
- Cholesterol tests
- Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Physical activity and healthy nutrition advice
- Referrals and signposting to appropriate services
Why are they important?
- The checks can help businesses identify potential health risks among employees. This allows them to take appropriate action to minimize these risks.
- They can provide recommendations for improving employees' health and wellbeing. These will increase productivity by reducing the time staff have off work and make sure they can perform their duties.
Are you interested?
If you'd like us to visit your workplace please email howsthiticker@barnsley.gov.uk.
