It’s Know Your Numbers! Week

The 20-minute Health Check that could save your life

Every year, thousands of people across the UK discover they’re at risk of serious health conditions they never saw coming.

You could feel like you’re in great health, but high blood pressure has the nickname of “the silent killer” for a reason. Along with high cholesterol and early diabetes, high blood pressure often develops without any symptoms at all – but that doesn’t make it any less deadly.

Silent conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and early diabetes often develop without symptoms, earning high blood pressure the nickname “the silent killer”.

That’s where Know Your Numbers! Week comes in. Running on the second week of September, it encourages everyone to take charge of their health by getting their vital numbers checked.

It’s a simple message with potentially life-saving results: know your numbers, protect your future.

The power of prevention: NHS Health Checks for 40-74 year olds

If you’re aged 40-74, you’re entitled to a free NHS Health Check every five years. It only takes 20 minutes, but it could detect the early warning signs of stroke, heart disease, kidney disease, or type 2 diabetes.

During your NHS Health Check, healthcare professionals will assess:

• Blood pressure – High blood pressure affects one in four adults * in the UK, but many don’t know they have it
• Cholesterol levels – Essential for understanding your risk of heart disease and stroke
• Blood sugar levels – To check for early signs of type 2 diabetes
• Body Mass Index (BMI) – A key indicator of overall health risk
• Family history and lifestyle factors – To build a complete picture of your health

The best part? You don’t need to wait until you feel unwell. These checks are designed to catch problems before they become serious, when they’re often easier to treat or manage.

Why your numbers matter more than you think

High blood pressure alone affects millions across the UK, and lots of people don’t know they have the condition. Left unmanaged, it significantly increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and other serious conditions.

Consider these facts:

• High blood pressure causes around half of all heart attacks and strokes
• Type 2 diabetes increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems
• High cholesterol contributes to the narrowing of arteries, which restricts blood flow to vital organs
• Many of these conditions develop gradually, so you might not even notice them until they’re severe

But there’s good news too. Once you know your numbers, you can take action. You can make a real difference to your long-term health by making small changes like improving your diet, exercising more often, managing your stress levels or taking prescribed medication.

And if you’d like some support making those changes, our free healthy lifestyle programme is available both online and in person.

Alternatively, the Beezee Adults Academy allows you to learn at your own pace, with six months of FREE access to our online learning modules.

Click here to find available support near you and start making changes today.

*Statistic taken from Public Health England – Health matters: combating high blood pressure – GOV.UK

Go Back >