This is World Hypertension Day and Memorial University’s School of Pharmacy is using the occasion to gather information for a research project on high blood pressure in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thirty community pharmacies across the province are participating by gathering information on the incidence of high blood pressure—a condition that has few, if any warning signs and which is often called the “silent killer.”

Untreated hypertension can lead to heart attack, stroke, or serious kidney damage. This province has some of the highest rates of high blood pressure in the country.

Research Study Lead, Dr. Tiffany Lee of MUN’s School of Pharmacy says they are hoping to learn more about the number of people in the community with hypertension by taking blood pressure from people at approximately 30 pharmacies across the province today.

She says the theme this year is Know Your Numbers.