A new NHS scheme offering tests to over-40s is forecast to identify more than half a million people at risk of heart attacks and strokes.
By providing free blood pressure checks at high-street pharmacies, the recently announced scheme could save more than 4,000 lives, making it easier to identify and treat potential strokes and heart attacks.
Around 15 million adults in the UK are estimated to have high blood pressure and more than 100,000 are estimated to suffer a stroke each year.
Health experts say the NHS initiative means 5,500 heart attacks, 8,140 strokes and 4,400 lives could be saved over the next five years.
Currently 8,423 pharmacists have signed up to offer the checks – more than double the number expected.
According to analysis from NHS England, more than five million people will take up checks, of whom around 550,000 are likely to be told they need treatment for high blood pressure, after being referred to their GP.
