Forest Hill Pools to host blood pressure event

On Wednesday 22nd October Forest Hill Pools will be hosting a Hypertensions and blood pressure event.  
 
The event is being led and run by Lewisham Health and Care Partnership as part of the South East London Integrated Care Board.  
 
The event will run between 9.30am and 12.30pm on Wednesday 22nd October and will take place in Studio 2 and the landing at Forest Hill Pools, Dartmouth Road, SE23 3HZ 
 
The event aims to help people understand more about high blood pressure and how to manage it. At the event you can:

- Have your blood pressure checked  
- Learn how to measure your blood pressure  
- Understand what is normal and what is not  
- Receive dietary and exercise advice  
- Meet others with high blood pressure  
- Speak to the experts  
 
Refreshments will be provided, all are welcome! To take part in this event please register here  
 
What is Hypertension? 

High blood pressure (also called hypertension) can lead to serious problems like heart attacks or strokes. But lifestyle changes and blood pressure medicines can help you stay healthy. 
High blood pressure is very common, especially in older adults. There are usually no symptoms, so you may not realise you have it. 
 
Things that increase your chances of having high blood pressure include: 
 
- Your age – you're more likely to get high blood pressure as you get older 
having close relatives with high blood pressure 
- Your ethnicity – you're at higher risk if you have a Black African, Black Caribbean or South Asian ethnic background 
- Having an unhealthy diet – especially a diet that's high in salt 
- Being overweight 
- Smoking 
- Drinking too much alcohol 
- Feeling stressed over a long period 
 
Members of the Better team will about to speak to people about the centres, focusing on our GP referral programme (Healthwise) and our Phase IV Cardiac Rehabilitation programme.  
 
Who is Healthwise for? 

The programme is for Lewisham residents or patients from a Lewisham GP surgery. It is designed to assist people who are currently inactive with medical conditions or other specialist requirements that prevent them from entering mainstream exercise. The most common reasons for referral are:

- High Blood Pressure 
- Diabetes 
- Asthma 
- Circulatory/respiratory diseases 
- Depression and anxiety 
 
To find out more about Healthwise please visit
 
This event will be one of a series of events happening around the borough with events scheduled in 2026. They will take place on the following dates and locations 
- Wednesday 21st January at Wavelengths Leisure Centre 
- Wednesday 11th March at Glass Mill Leisure Centre