Plus: 1 in 3 adults have high blood pressure, but don't know it, and keep your baby protected from whooping cough.
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Improving and protecting health and reducing health inequalities.
Newsletter header. Text: Health and wellbeing news and updates.
** Walking can do wonders for your health and wellbeing
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Walking has so many health benefits, for all ages and abilities. It can help with physical and mental health, such as reducing stress, lowering blood pressure and helping maintain a health weight. Plus walking is one of the easiest ways to get more active and it's free!
Walking is also a great a sociable activity. In Dorset, including Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole, you can enjoy a health walk and explore all different parts of the county with a group of other walkers.
Health walks are free, short and regular guided walks and they're a great activity for anyone wanting to improve their health by getting more active. Discover health walk locations near you:
* Health walks in the Dorset Council area
* Health in the BCP Council area
A group of three women and two men walking in a park.
** 1 in 3 adults have high blood pressure, but don’t know it
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Do you know your blood pressure numbers? High blood pressure
also known as hypertension, can have no symptoms, and if left untreated can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.
For World Hypertension Day on Friday 17 May, we're reminding residents how important it is to know your blood pressure numbers. You can get your blood pressure checked at many places, including your GP practice, a local pharmacy or as part of an NHS Health Check.
An NHS Health Check
is free check-up of your cardiovascular health which detects potential health problems sooner rather than later. Even if you're feeling well, if you've been invited for a free NHS Health Check by your GP practice, it's important you take up the offer.
In the video below, Dr Ben Oxley explains the process of being invited for a free NHS Health Check as well as what to expect when you come for your appointment.
Find out more on NHS health checks
** Protect your baby from whooping cough
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If you're pregnant, the whooping cough vaccine will help protect your baby. Whooping cough
be life-threatening and require hospital treatment. Getting the vaccine helps protect your baby and keep them healthy in their first few weeks of life.
The pertussis vaccine is offered during pregnancy, and helps to give your baby enough protection against whooping cough until they’re old enough for their routine vaccinations. So, when you're offered the pertussis vaccine by your GP, it's important to take it up.
If you have any worries and want to know more about the whooping cough vaccine, do talk to your midwife or GP.
Read more on the whooping cough vaccine
** How you can support someone with their mental health
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Next week is Mental Health Awareness Week. Any of us can struggle with our mental health, at any time and for lots of different reasons. If you know someone who may be struggling, letting them know you are there to listen is one of the most important things you can do.
We understand it's not always easy to start a conversation with someone you are worried about. You might worry about saying the wrong thing or being intrusive. But having the confidence to act could help save a life.
The Samaritans provide expert advice and tips on how to support someone you're worried about, including how to be a better listener
.
If they need a trusted voice to talk to, they can contact any of these free support services, which are on-hand to help 24/7:
* Call NHS Connection, Dorset’s 24/7 mental health helpline - 0800 652 0190
* Call Samaritans for a listening ear with no judgement - 116 123
* Text 'SHOUT' to 85258 for free confidential support via text message
Find more mental health support
** Think pharmacy first
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Did you know you can see your pharmacist for these seven common conditions:
* earache
* impetigo
* infected insect bites
* shingles
* sinusitis
* sore throat
* urinary tract infections (UTIs)
For those seven common conditions, your pharmacist can now provide treatment and some prescription medicine, if needed, without seeing a GP. So, don't wait for minor health concerns to get worse, get seen by your local pharmacy team.
Please only visit our Emergency Department for serious or life-threatening injuries and conditions.
See how your pharmacy can help
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