The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7353 p698
11 June 2005

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More women than men get their blood pressure checked

Twice as many women as men are taking advantage of free health monitoring services such as diabetes screening and blood pressure monitoring at Lloydspharmacy, the community pharmacy chain announced this week.

Lloydspharmacy has offered free blood pressure tests since June 2003. Of the 225,000 who have been tested, only 14 per cent (31,961) have been men. And of the 550,000 people who have used Lloydspharmacy’s diabetes screening service, only 136,768 (24 per cent) have been men.

Andy Murdock, pharmacy director for Lloydspharmacy, commented: “Given the accessibility of pharmacists in the local community, we are disappointed that men don’t seem to be taking advantage of the services they offer.”

Men’s Health Week runs from 13–19 June. This year the event focuses on obesity.