UK charity the Blood Pressure Association and national Know your Numbers Week(10-16 September).

Uncontrolled and undetected high blood pressure is the biggest cause of death and disability through stroke, heart attack and heart disease. In a bid to encourage more people to have a blood pressure check, the BPA has themed this year’s event ‘Finding the Missing Millions’. This is because 16 million adults in the UK have high blood pressure, yet 5.3 million aren’t aware of it because there are no symptoms.

Sandra said, “I am supporting the Blood Pressure Association’s Know your Numbers! Week because it’s shocking to realise that one in three adults has high blood pressure, yet millions of them don’t know it. This is a health issue that will affect many constituents so I hope that as many people as possible have a free blood pressure to reduce their risk.”

Sue Massey, the Blood Pressure Association’s Head of Communications, said: “We are delighted that Sandra Osborne is helping the BPA to raise awareness of this serious health issue.

“Getting a blood pressure check is free, quick and painless and high blood pressure can be controlled once it’s detected. We hope that everyone takes this opportunity to ‘know their numbers’ - in the same way they know their height and weight - and takes action to lower them if found to be raised.”

To find out more about high blood pressure, or for a free information pack on the condition, visit the BPA’s website www.bpassoc.org.uk or call 020 8772 4994.