Know Your Numbers Week – Sep. 7, 2026

Know Your Numbers Week
Categories:
Tags:
AwarenessDiseasesEducational
Where:
United Kingdom
Date change rule:
Week starting with the 2nd Monday of September
Holiday emoji:
🩸

Know Your Numbers Week champions cardiovascular health every second week of September. This vital campaign encourages everyone to get their blood pressure checked and understand what their numbers mean. Take action by finding a local testing station or speaking with your doctor about monitoring your blood pressure.

Want to sponsor Know Your Numbers Week? Learn how

Expected Know Your Numbers Week Deals

Know Your Numbers Week focuses on vital health awareness rather than commercial deals, but several organizations and brands support the cause. The Blood Pressure UK charity spearheads the campaign, offering free online resources and promoting ‘Pressure Stations’ for testing. Pharmacies like Boots and LloydsPharmacy in the UK often provide free or low-cost blood pressure checks. Health tech companies such as Omron Healthcare and Withings may highlight their home blood pressure monitors. Fitness trackers from brands like Fitbit and Garmin, which can track heart rate, might also be promoted as part of a holistic health approach. We encourage participation in local screenings and supporting organizations dedicated to cardiovascular health.

Platform Guide for Know Your Numbers Week

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #KnowYourNumbers. Share your experience getting tested or educational infographics about blood pressure.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #KnowYourNumbers. Join conversations about hypertension prevention and share links to reliable health resources.

LinkedIn

Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #KnowYourNumbers. Businesses can promote workplace wellness initiatives and encourage employee screenings.

Social Media Tips for Know Your Numbers Week

Individuals

Locate a local 'Pressure Station' or visit your doctor for a blood pressure check. Share your commitment to understanding your health using the hashtag #KnowYourNumbers.

Creators

Produce informative videos or posts explaining what blood pressure readings mean, demonstrating how to use a home monitor, or sharing healthy lifestyle tips for heart health.

Brands

Host free blood pressure screenings for employees and customers, partner with health organizations for educational events, or offer discounts on health-related products.

Organizations & Brands for Know Your Numbers Week

  1. Blood Pressure UK

    Founded in 1987, Blood Pressure UK is the UK's leading charity dedicated to lowering the nation's blood pressure to prevent stroke and heart disease. They run the annual 'Know Your Numbers! Week' campaign, providing resources and promoting free blood pressure checks.

  2. British Heart Foundation

    Established in 1961, the British Heart Foundation is a major UK charity funding research into heart and circulatory diseases. They provide extensive information on blood pressure management and support initiatives like Know Your Numbers Week.

  3. Boots

    A prominent UK health and beauty retailer, Boots offers a range of pharmacy services, including blood pressure testing and advice. They often participate in national health campaigns, making screenings accessible to the public.

  4. LloydsPharmacy

    As one of the UK's largest community pharmacy chains, LloydsPharmacy provides essential health services, including blood pressure checks and medication management. They play a key role in supporting public health initiatives.

  5. Omron Healthcare

    A global leader in medical equipment, Omron Healthcare specializes in products for health monitoring and therapy, including highly accurate blood pressure monitors. Their devices empower individuals to track their numbers at home.

  6. World Heart Federation

    Founded in 1978, the World Heart Federation is a non-governmental organization dedicated to leading the global fight against heart disease and stroke. They advocate for better cardiovascular health worldwide, including blood pressure awareness.

  7. NHS (National Health Service)

    The publicly funded healthcare system of the UK, the NHS provides comprehensive medical services, including diagnosis and management of high blood pressure. They are a crucial partner in national health campaigns like Know Your Numbers Week.

Know Your Numbers Week Hero

Dr. Stephen Hales

Stephen Hales (1677–1761) was an English clergyman, physiologist, and inventor who made significant contributions to the understanding of blood pressure. In 1733, he published 'Statical Essays,' which included the first recorded measurement of blood pressure in a living animal (a horse). His pioneering work laid foundational groundwork for future human blood pressure research and monitoring.

History of Know Your Numbers Week

The first Know Your Numbers Week! took place in 2007 and had the theme ‘Finding The Missing Millions.’ It’s estimated that 16 million people in the U.K. have high blood pressure, but 5.3 million of them don’t know it. To address this, 2,700 ‘Pressure Stations’ were set up across the country to take pressure readings resulting in a quarter-million people being tested.

The momentum of the campaign began to grow, and 2009 saw a rise in media coverage for Know Your Numbers! Week It featured on GMTV, radio shows including BBC Radio 2 Drivetime, and national newspapers the ‘Daily Express’ and the ‘Daily Star.’ The campaign focused on the busiest areas in the U.K. which included train stations, shopping centers, and workplaces. The mission for 2012 was to know your numbers and the numbers of your partner. The campaign encouraged couples to get tested and know each other’s numbers.

With the rise of social media in 2017, the Know Your Numbers! campaign began trending online and continued to do so yearly with the hashtag #KnowYourNumbers. The posters reached over 21,000 people on Twitter and were among the most successful campaigns on the social media site. In 2019 the Know Your Numbers! campaign ‘Live Well For Longer’ reached 52,8000 people online and was featured on Arsenal football club’s website. In 2020 the campaign went virtual and encouraged people to buy or borrow a home blood pressure monitor. Additionally, the campaign created and distributed a collection of home monitoring resources. These included a guide to checking your blood pressure at home, a home-monitoring record card to track blood pressure numbers, and a video explaining how to measure blood pressure and what the numbers mean.

Know Your Numbers Week timeline

2008
The Civil Society Media Award

The Know Your Numbers! campaign receives the Healthcare and Medical Research Award at The Charity Awards event.

2010
The Guinness World Record

The Know Your Numbers! Week breaks the world record for the most B.P. tests in eight hours.

2016
The Increased Support

Public Health England comes onboard and creates ‘I Know My Numbers Boards.’

2019
The Online Presence Grows

Know Your Numbers! Week trends on Twitter three years in a row with 500,000 website views.

2021
The 21-Year Anniversary

Know your Numbers! Week has been around for 21 years.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Know Your Numbers Week

Local businesses can champion Know Your Numbers Week by hosting free blood pressure screenings for their employees and customers, partnering with local pharmacies or health clinics. They can also distribute educational materials about hypertension and healthy lifestyle choices in their premises. Offering healthy snack options or organizing a wellness challenge can further engage staff and demonstrate a commitment to community health during this vital awareness week. Pharmacies and health clinics, in particular, should promote their services widely.

Know Your Numbers Week FAQs

When is Know Your Numbers Week?

In 2026, Know Your Numbers Week runs from Monday, September 7, through Sunday, September 13. This annual campaign is a crucial time to prioritize your cardiovascular health.

How many people have high blood pressure?

Globally, an estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 years have hypertension (high blood pressure). In the UK, around one in three adults are affected, with many unaware of their condition.

What are the 'numbers' in blood pressure?

Blood pressure is measured as two numbers: systolic (the top number, pressure when heart beats) and diastolic (the bottom number, pressure when heart rests). A healthy reading is typically below 120/80 mmHg.

Why is it important to know your blood pressure numbers?

Knowing your blood pressure numbers is crucial because high blood pressure, often symptomless, significantly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and dementia. Early detection allows for timely intervention.

How to Observe Know Your Numbers Week

  1. Get to know your numbers

    There is no other way to do this other than to get tested. So go on, find your local Pressure Station, and Know Your Numbers!

  2. Join the charity organization Blood Pressure the U.K.

    Membership fees go towards the campaign and support of their work. What better way to contribute to this worthwhile cause?

  3. Run a Pressure Station

    Register online to run a Pressure Station in your local community. You can get support from your local medics.

5 Facts About High Blood Pressure

  1. It often has zero symptoms

    When high blood pressure goes untreated, it can cause a heart attack or a stroke.

  2. It is easily treatable and managed

    High blood pressure and diseases it causes are manageable by medicine and lifestyle changes.

  3. It is the third health-risk factor

    After smoking and poor diet, high blood pressure is the third high-risk factor for all diseases.

  4. More men have this disease

    In an England study, 31% of men were found to have high blood pressure as compared to just 26% of women.

  5. Many people remain undiagnosedt

    In England, there are more than five million people who are unaware of their blood pressure status.

Why Know Your Numbers Week is Important

  1. It is an easy process that has big rewards.

    Know Your Numbers! Week makes getting your blood pressure checked an easy task. Let us not ignore the life-changing rewards.

  2. The organization makes it simple to do your part and get involved

    From advertising and resources to coverage, the organization provides you with the tools you will need to run your Pressure Station. It is a great way to give back to your community.

  3. There are many ways to contribute

    You have many avenues to take and be part of the change. You could share a Tweet, host a Pressure Station, fundraise, put up posters, make a donation, or become a member of Blood Pressure the U.K.

Know Your Numbers Week dates

Year Date Day
2025 September 8–14 Monday–Sunday
2026 September 7–13 Monday–Sunday