It is important to be aware that high blood pressure often isn’t directly caused by anything in particular, and sometimes we do not know what causes it. However you may be more at risk if you:

• Smoke
• Have a family history of high blood pressure
• Are overweight
• Are over 65
• Are of black African or black Caribbean descent
• Eat too much salt
• Drink too much alcohol or caffeine-containing drinks

The free blood pressure check service is for;

• Adults who are 40 years and older, who do not have a current diagnosis of hypertension
• People, by exception, under the age of 40 who have a recognised family history of hypertension (at the discretion of the pharmacy team)
• People between 35-39 years old at the discretion of the pharmacy team
• Adults, with or without a hypertension diagnosis, sent by their GP

This is service is not appropriate for people who already have their blood pressure regularly monitored by a healthcare professional or for people who require daily blood pressure monitoring for any period of time. 

Please note that this service is currently only bookable in our stores in England.

At the initial appointment, our pharmacy team will take as long as necessary to answer any questions you may have and discuss your results, but the blood pressure check itself takes less than a couple of minutes.

If you are eligible for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, the monitor will be fitted and loaned to you for 24 hours. It will take measurements every 30 minutes during your waking hours, and once an hour during the night.

Low blood pressure, also known as hypotension, doesn’t often cause any issues. However, if it is causing you problems such as dizziness or fainting, our pharmacy team can provide you with useful lifestyle advice that may ease your symptoms. In some cases, changes to your medication may be necessary with the support of your GP.