Charity Attempts Blood Pressure Testing World Record in Cardiff

LONDON, September 14, 2010 - Thousands of Cardiff residents are being urged to roll up their sleeves
on Wednesday 15 September as the Welsh capital gets set to attempt the
Guinness World Record for the most blood pressures tested in one day. Rhodri
Morgan AM and former First Minister is launching the attempt, which is also
being backed by Welsh Weather Presenter Siân Lloyd.

UK charity the Blood Pressure Association is hoping to break the World
Record as part of Know your Numbers! Week, its UK-wide campaign, running
13-19 September.

Over 20 nurses from Caer Health Services and other volunteers will be
working non-stop in St David's shopping centre, Cardiff to take more than
2,075 different blood pressures within just eight hours. To break the current
Guinness World Record, recorded in 2009 in Oviedo, Florida, they'll need to
check at least 13 people each per hour!

One in three UK adults have high blood pressure, yet almost three
quarters don't know their blood pressure numbers, according to research from
the Blood Pressure Association[1]. As the leading cause of stroke and heart
attack this symptomless condition is a 'silent killer'. The only way to
detect risk is with regular blood pressure checks, but once detected it can
be successfully managed.

Sue Massey, Deputy Executive Director of UK charity the Blood Pressure
Association, said: "We're really excited to be attempting the World Record in
Cardiff during Know your Numbers! Week.

"We're urging Cardiff commuters, city workers and locals to join the fun
and help us make record-breaking history. At the same time they'll also be
having potentially life-saving checks as undiagnosed high blood pressure is
the leading cause of stroke and heart attack."

If you can't get down to St David's, Cardiff, there are 1,400 other
'Pressure Stations' being held in supermarkets, pharmacies, markets and other
community venues across the nation throughout Know your Numbers! Week (13-19
September).

Find out where you can get your free blood pressure check by visiting
www.bpassoc.org.uk or calling +44(0)20-8772-4994.

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[1] 103,000 adults had a free blood pressure check during Know your
Numbers! 2009 (7-13 September). Research is based on a sample of 24,142
readings.

Notes to Editors: For quotes from Rhodri Morgan, Siân Lloyd or Caer Health Services, or for information on Know your Numbers! Week, contact Anna in the Blood Pressure Association's Press Office on +44(0)20-8772-4993/4984 or email acureton at sgul.ac.uk