This Healthy Wednesday get a free risk assessment at your local pharmacy

This Healthy Wednesday we are helping to raise awareness of the ‘One in Ten’ pharmacy campaign.

From Monday 3 September until Friday 14 September all pharmacies in Wales will be offering customers free risk assessments for diabetes and stroke.

Members of the public can drop in anytime during opening hours to have the tests, which involve taking measurements and answering questions.

Diabetes and stroke are two of the biggest causes of early death and disability in Wales. The tests only take a few minutes of your time but could add years to your life if you act on the results.

If you are found to be at risk, there are positive steps you can take to prevent the damage that can be done from these conditions by changing your lifestyle or taking prescribed medicine.

These assessments are part of a Wales-wide campaign launched by Diabetes UK Cymru, the Stroke Association, Public Health Wales and Community Pharmacy Wales to find the one person in ten who may be at risk.

Those found to be at risk of diabetes or a stroke will be given advice on how to prevent it, while those who have a high risk will immediately be referred to their GP.

The main ways of reducing your risk of both conditions are stopping smoking, losing weight, eating well and getting more exercise. There are sometimes medications you can take to reduce other risks, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol.

To find out the opening times of your nearest pharmacy go to: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/862/directory/pharmacies

You can find more information about stroke and diabetes by visiting www.stroke.org.uk/about-us/our-work-wales or www.diabetes.org.uk/wales