Campaign results a healthy sign

More people are checking on their blood pressure in Rotorua, thanks to a local campaign.

Rotorua and Bay of Plenty shoppers are helping to spread the message about high blood pressure, analysis of the Stroke Foundation's annual blood pressure campaign shows.

Nearly 1400 people had their pressure tested at the region's 15 New World or Pak'n Save supermarkets and other sites on October 4 last year.

The follow-up survey of participants confirmed last year's finding with nearly four out of 10 saying they are taking action to control their blood pressure as a result.

At Rotorua's New World, 110 people were tested and had a mean systolic reading of 141 and a mean diastolic reading of 80. At Rotorua's Pak'n Save, 81 people were tested and had a mean systolic reading of 133 and a mean diastolic reading of 83.

An ideal blood pressure should be more than 90 over 60 (90/60) and less than 120 over 80 (120/80).

Almost all participants said they would now tell others to get their blood pressure checked.

The tests were carried out by St John volunteers, assisted by Rotary.

Stroke Foundation health promotion manager Julia Rout said getting people to persuade others to check their blood pressure was a great result.

"Friends and family are the biggest influences on our behaviour. We trust them more than anyone else so spreading the campaign message in this way shows that its impact goes way beyond the people we test directly on the day."

Ms Rout said the aim was to encourage people to check their blood pressure regularly, know what their reading was, and understand the relationship between high blood pressure and strokes.

"Eight out of 10 participants surveyed afterwards said they had read campaign literature and could identify ways to reduce their blood pressure, while on campaign day itself only six out of 10 said they understood that high blood pressure was a major risk factor for strokes.

"That suggests the campaign is very successful in getting people to engage with the message we are trying to put across."