How's your heart?
Identifying medical conditions can significantly improve your health. High blood pressure (BP), atrial fibrillation (AF), and high cholesterol can be managed with the help of your GP.
'How's your heart' checks have been designed as a quick and easy way for you to check on your wellbeing without scheduling a visit to the doctor (information recorded at 'How's your heart' events may be shared with GPs to help manage test outcomes).
BP and AF checks
High blood pressure is the number one risk factor of cardiovascular disease and cases are rising.
More than 30% of people with high blood pressure don’t know they have the condition.
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and often faster than normal heartbeat which is a risk factor for stroke. AF can often be picked up when you have your blood pressure taken.
To help improve the health of residents and identify people with these conditions who aren’t aware, the Active North Tyneside team offers quick, free and painless blood pressure and AF checks at various venues in North Tyneside, without the need for an appointment.
The next 'How's your heart?' events for BP and AF are taking place on:
- Tuesday 17 September, 11am-2pm at The Oxford Centre
- Friday 27 September, 11am-2pm at the White Swan Centre
- Thursday 3 October, 11am-2pm at John Willie Sams
Exclusion criteria (such as an existing medical condition or being on some medications) applies. If you are registered at any of the following GP practices you are not eligible for a BP/AF health check at 'How's your heart' events: Lane End Surgery, Mallard Medical Practice, Northumberland Park Medical Group, Stephenson Park Health Group (Forest Hall Health Centre, White Swan Surgery), Swarland Avenue Surgery, Wellspring Medical Practice, West Farm Surgery, Wideopen Medical Centre, Woodlands Park Medical Centre. If you are not eligible, you can access testing at some local pharmacies (details below).
Cholesterol checks
High cholesterol is when you have too much of a fatty substance called cholesterol in your blood. Too much cholesterol can block your blood vessels, increasing your risk of heart problems or stroke.
Typically there are no symptoms. You can check your levels with a blood test or a finger prick test. It’s possible to lower your cholesterol through lifestyle changes, such as eating healthily and becoming more active, but some people may need to take medication.
The Active North Tyneside team offers a free simple finger prick test at various venues in North Tyneside, without the need for an appointment. One small drop of blood can provide a result in as little as seven minutes and will help you to understand:
- Total cholesterol levels
- HDL (good) cholesterol
- Non-HDL or LDL (bad) cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- Your heart age
- Your 10 year risk of cardiovascular disease
The next 'How's your heart?' events for cholesterol will take place on:
- Wednesday 9 October, 11am-2pm at Cullercoats Watch House
- Wednesday 16 October, 11m-2pm at Cedarwood (North Shields)
- Wednesday 23 October, 10am-1pm at North Bank Café (North Shields)
Exclusion criteria (such as an existing medical condition or already being on some cholesterol medications such as statins) applies.
Blood pressure checks at pharmacies
Some pharmacies may be able to offer you a free blood pressure check. Below is a list of locations where this service is available in North Tyneside (please note that eligibility criteria can apply). Some residents may also be eligible for a full NHS Health Check, which is a more detailed check to prepare you for the future and take steps to improve your health.
Area | Pharmacy | Address | Phone number |
---|---|---|---|
Backworth | Backworth Pharmacy | Unit 2, Old Co-Op Buildings, NE27 0JE | 0191 268 8862 |
Benton | Asda Benton | Whitley Road, NE12 9SJr | 0191 270 5710 |
Benton | Boots | 25 Station Road North, NE12 7AR | 0191 266 1378 |
Forest Hall | Forest Hall Pharmacy - Avicenna Partner | 99 Station Road North, NE12 7HS | 0191 266 5019 |
Howdon | Well High Howdon Pharmacy | 86 Windsor Drive, NE28 0PS | 0191 262 3269 |
Killingworth | Boots | The Killingworth Centre, NE12 6HS | 0191 268 3124 |
Longbenton | Boots | West Farm Avenue, NE12 8GA | 0191 215 0315 |
Longbenton | Mail My Meds | Balliol Business Park, Unit 1 Karmjit House, NE12 8EW | 0191 816 1310 |
North Shields | Boots | Nelson Health Centre, NE29 0DZ | 0191 259 5360 |
North Shields | Lloyd’s Pharmacy | 18 Albion Road, NE29 0HT | 0191 257 0039 |
North Shields | Well North Shields Verne Road | 198 Verne Road, NE29 7DR | 0191 257 1029 |
Seaton Burn | Seaton Burn Pharmacy - Avicenna Partner | 36 Bridge Street, NE13 6EN | 0191 236 1391 |
Tynemouth | Boots | 17 Percy Park Road, NE30 4LX | 0191 257 7651 |
Wallsend | Dennis Pharmacy - Avicenna Partner | 9-13 Tynemouth Road, NE28 0AA | 0191 262 3780 |
Wallsend | Fairmans Chemists | 22-24 High Street West, NE28 8HU | 0191 262 3522 |
Wallsend | Newline Pharmacy Coast Road | 11 Coast Road, NE28 9HP | 0191 262 3210 |
Wallsend | Norchem Healthcare Limited Hadrian Pharmacy | Addington Drive, NE28 9UY | 0191 295 3303 |
Wallsend | Well Wallsend – Crow Bank Pharmacy | Crow Bank, NE28 7PG | 0191 263 0044 |
Whitley Bay | Boots | Unit 15, Park View Shopping Centre, NE26 1DG | 0191 252 2294 |
Whitley Bay | Boots | 154 Whitley Road, NE26 2NA | 0191 253 1864 |
Whitley Bay | Boots | 9 Claremont Crescent, NE26 3HL | 0191 252 3759 |
Whitley Bay | Lloyd’s Pharmacy (in Sainsburys) | Newsteads Drive, NE25 9EX | 0191 253 3016 |
Whitley Bay | Fairman Chemists | 295 Whitley Road, NE26 2SN | 0191 252 5146 |
Whitley Bay | Welcome Health Pharmacy | 205 Whitley Road, NE26 2SY | 0191 447 4544 |
Whitley Bay | Whitley Bay Pharmacy | 116 Park View, NE26 3QL | 0191 251 1057 |
Wideopen | Wideopen Pharmacy - Avicenna Partner | 42 Park View, NE13 6LH | 0191 236 2017 |
This information is correct as of January 2023. Please be aware that eligibility criteria can apply for blood pressure checks in some pharmacies, if you do not meet the criteria there may be a small charge for this service.