Just a third of all sufferers are aware they have the condition, while a third are not being treated for it and a third “are not being treated properly or controlled to recommended targets”.

One of the easiest ways to check and help control your blood pressure is through your community pharmacist.

Ajit Malhi, a qualified pharmacist and Professional Services Manager for AAH Pharmaceuticals, says, “Many pharmacies offer services like Vantage Health Watch Blood Pressure Monitoring to a wide group of patients including the well and the worried well, those with a family history of heart disease, the elderly and people on blood pressure medication.”

The symptoms in sufferers, who increase in number with age, are often only noticed by chance and after it has caused long-term damage or increased the risk of coronary heart disease, kidney diseases, strokes and diabetes.

“People who need regular checks find the pharmacy an easy and convenient way of getting the attention of trained health professionals”, Ajit continues.

“As you would assume, we work according to medical protocol and refer people with consistently high or low blood pressure to their GP for consultation.”

“Of course, we know that the most vulnerable group of people we need to educate is men, particularly the middle-aged and elderly who are a different profile to the typical groups visiting pharmacies.”

“The challenge for us in the medium to long term is to reach more people in these high risk groups, and one way forward is to educate people about the benefits of watching their own health which is the main purpose of AAH’s Vantage Health Watch initiative.”

There are approximately 140 pharmacies across the country offering Vantage Health Watch Blood Pressure Monitoring. For details of your local Vantage pharmacy please call Andrew on 020 7569 3044.