The Roehampton Surgery

High blood pressure often has no symptoms, but it can increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and other serious health conditions. The good news is that it's easy to check and, if needed, it can often be managed with lifestyle changes or treatment.

During Know Your Numbers! Week, everyone is encouraged to find out their blood pressure reading. Whether you're 20 or 80, knowing your numbers is one of the best ways to take control of your health. This year's theme is "You know your age, do you know your numbers?"

You can have your blood pressure checked:
💙 At your GP practice
💙 At many local pharmacies
💙 At home using a validated blood pressure monitor

If your blood pressure is high, don't panic. Your healthcare team can support you with advice, lifestyle changes and treatment if needed. Small changes, such as eating less salt, being more active and maintaining a healthy weight, can make a big difference. 🌿🚶

Don't wait for symptoms – because there often aren't any. Know your numbers and take control of your heart health today. ❤️

Find out more:
https://www.bloodpressureuk.org/know-your-numbers/know-your-numbers-week/

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗯𝘆. 🤰💙

Regular physical activity can help you adapt to the changes happening to your body, support your overall wellbeing and prepare your body for labour. 🏃‍♀️

If your pregnancy is uncomplicated, you can usually continue with your normal daily physical activity or exercise for as long as you feel comfortable. Activities such as walking, swimming and pregnancy-friendly exercise can all be great ways to keep moving. 🚶‍♀️🏊‍♀️

𝗔 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿:
• Always warm up before exercising and cool down afterwards.
• Keep well hydrated, particularly during warmer weather. 💧
• Avoid exercising in very hot conditions.
• Don't exhaust yourself – you should still be able to hold a conversation while exercising.
• Avoid activities where there's a risk of falling or being hit.
• After 16 weeks, avoid exercising while lying flat on your back for long periods.

If you weren't active before pregnancy, don't suddenly begin strenuous exercise. Start gently and build up gradually. 👍

Every pregnancy is different, so speak to your midwife or healthcare professional if you're unsure which activities are suitable for you. 💙

NHS pregnancy exercise advice:
https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/exercise/

Need advice about a common health condition? Your local pharmacy could be your first stop 💊💙

Highly trained pharmacists can provide expert advice, recommend treatments and, for some common conditions, offer NHS treatment through the Pharmacy First service without you needing to see a GP first 👍

Pharmacy First can help with seven common conditions, including:

• Impetigo (aged 1 year and over)
• Infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
• Earache (aged 1 to 17 years)
• Sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
• Sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs) (women aged 16 to 64 years)
• Shingles (aged 18 years and over)

Pharmacists are also available to help with many other everyday health concerns, including coughs, colds, hay fever, aches and pains, digestive problems, medicines advice, healthy living support and more 🌿

If your condition needs further assessment, your pharmacist will make sure you're directed to the right NHS service. They can also identify when symptoms may need urgent medical attention ⚠️

Choosing Pharmacy First can help you get expert advice more quickly while helping to keep GP appointments available for people who need them most 💙

Find out more:
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/pharmacies/how-pharmacies-can-help/

Persistent gut symptoms should never be ignored 💜

Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and early diagnosis can make a big difference

Symptoms can include ongoing diarrhoea, stomach pain, blood in poo, weight loss, and extreme tiredness 💬

Many people delay getting help due to embarrassment or uncertainty, but getting checked early is important 🤝

Find out more about symptoms and standards of care here:
https://www.whatsupwithmygut.org.uk
https://ibduk.org/ibd-standards

Trying for a baby? Understanding your menstrual cycle and when you ovulate can help you identify the days when you're most likely to become pregnant 👶💙

Ovulation usually happens around 10–16 days before your next period starts. This is when an egg is released from the o***y and is available to be fertilised 🥚

Because s***m can survive in the body for several days, there is a "fertile window" during each cycle when pregnancy is more likely to occur 📅

An ovulation calculator can help estimate when you may be ovulating based on the length of your menstrual cycle, making it a useful tool if you're trying to conceive 👍

Remember that every person is different, and factors such as stress, illness and irregular periods can affect ovulation 💫

If you've been trying to get pregnant and would like further advice, speak to your GP or healthcare professional 💙

Try the ovulation calculator here:
https://patient.info/pregnancy/ovulation-calculator

With the Bank Holiday approaching, it's important to know how to access NHS services if you need help over the long weekend. 💙

Many GP practices will be closed on Bank Holiday days, but there are still a range of NHS services available if you need medical advice, treatment or urgent care. 🏥

✅ Use NHS 111 online for medical advice and support
✅ Call 111 if you need urgent medical help but it's not an emergency
✅ Visit your local pharmacy for advice on common illnesses and minor injuries
✅ Use NHS online services to manage prescriptions and access health information
✅ Call 999 or attend A&E for life-threatening emergencies only

If you take regular medication, remember to order any repeat prescriptions in plenty of time before the Bank Holiday to avoid running out. 💊

Planning ahead can help you enjoy the long weekend and ensure you know where to turn if you need healthcare support. ☀️

Find NHS services near you:
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/

Get help from NHS 111:
https://111.nhs.uk/

Learn how pharmacies can help:
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/pharmacies/how-pharmacies-can-help/

Have you been invited for an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) screening? It’s important to attend 💙

AAA screening is offered to men in England during the year they turn 65. The screening test looks for a swelling (aneurysm) in the aorta, the main blood vessel that carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body 🩺

An abdominal aortic aneurysm often causes no symptoms, which means many people don't know they have one. If an aneurysm grows and bursts, it can be life-threatening, which is why early detection is so important ⚠️

The screening itself is quick, painless and similar to an ultrasound scan. Most appointments take less than 10 minutes and can provide reassurance or help identify any problems early 👍

You'll usually only need to be screened once, unless an aneurysm is found and requires monitoring 👨‍⚕️

If you've received an invitation, don't ignore it. Attending your appointment could save your life 💙

Find out more:
https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-screening/

Did you know you can access a range of NHS services online through your NHS account? 💙📱

Your NHS account securely stores your health information and makes it easier to manage your healthcare whenever and wherever you need it 👍

There are two ways to access your NHS account:
• Through the NHS App on your smartphone or tablet 📱
• Through a web browser on a computer, laptop or smart device without downloading an app 💻

Once you've set up your NHS login, you can:
• Order repeat prescriptions 💊
• Manage appointments 📅
• View your GP health record securely 🔒
• Register your organ donation decision ❤️
• Find your NHS number 🏥

Having an NHS account gives you quick, secure access to important health information and services, helping you manage your care more conveniently 💫

Access your NHS account here:
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/account

Create an NHS login here:
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/online-services/nhs-login/

We are offering this programme in collaboration with Sadhana Yoga and Wellbeing Studio in Clapham Junction.

This is a beginner-friendly, mat-based yoga class held in a gently heated environment (20–25 degrees). 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝗴𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻; 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝘆𝗼𝗴𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝘁. The gentle heat is intended to help warm the body, which may support flexibility, circulation and ease of movement, while the yoga practice itself can also promote relaxation, stress relief, and overall wellbeing.

The programme is currently running as a trial to help us understand whether there is demand for this type of offer locally.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻? Every other Thursday, 9.30 – 10.30am (13 Aug, 27 Aug, 10 Sep, 24 Sep, 8 Oct, 22 Oct, 5 Nov 2026)

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲? Sadhana Yoga and Wellbeing Studio Clapham Junction, 91 St John’s Hill, SW11 1SY

𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗲: £6 pay as you go

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Email [email protected] or call 020 8877 8947.

Reasonable adjustments can help make healthcare more accessible for people with disabilities, learning disabilities, autism, sensory impairments, dementia and other long-term conditions 💙

The NHS has a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments so that everyone can access healthcare services as easily as possible. These adjustments are tailored to the individual and can make a big difference to someone's experience and wellbeing. 🌟

Examples of reasonable adjustments may include:
✅ Longer appointment times
✅ Easy Read information
✅ Communication support or interpreters
✅ A quiet place to wait
✅ Accessible appointment letters
✅ Support from a carer, family member or advocate
✅ Flexible appointment times

If you think you may benefit from reasonable adjustments, speak to your GP practice or healthcare provider. Letting staff know about your needs can help ensure you receive the right support whenever you access NHS services. 💙

Find out more:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/learning-disabilities/improving-health/reasonable-adjustments/