§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government has to publicise information on blood pressure. [127721]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonHigh blood pressure—hypertension—is a major risk factor for stroke, coronary heart disease and other illnesses such as kidney disease and aortic aneurysm.
Blood pressure is part of the core data collected each year by the Health Survey for England. Tables on trends in blood pressure are updated each year and released on the Department of Health website. At the same time a main report is published together with a summary of Key Findings. For 2002 the report will focus on the health of children and young people and will include a section on blood pressure. Publication of the report for the 2002 survey is expected at the end of this year.
In order to increase public awareness of hypertension and its attendant risks, as well as the importance of prevention and early detection, the Department of Health provided funding in 2002 for the Blood Pressure Association's "National Blood Pressure Testing Week". With 100,000 people tested at 1,350 blood pressure testing stations nation-wide, the purpose of the campaign is to raise public awareness of high blood pressure and encourage everyone to know their own blood pressure numbers. The Department of Health is also supporting the 3rd National Blood Pressure Testing Week (15–21 September 2003).
In his Annual Report for 2002 on the state of the public health the Chief Medical Officer reviewed progress in the area of high blood pressure, which was one of the five areas covered in his 2001 report.
Prevention of hypertension through a healthy lifestyle, including diet and physical activity is key. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published a consumer leaflet designed to raise awareness of salt intake, how to cut down on salt and the health benefits of reducing salt in the diet. The FSA regularly publishes a range of surveys and a survey showing the salt levels in certain food products will be published later this year.