By Andy Gilpin
As England鈥檚 women鈥檚 team kicked off their summer campaign in Europe with defeat, it鈥檚 not just the players who are feeling the pressure. Research from the University of Oxford reveals that watching football can significantly raise cortisol levels – the body鈥檚 stress hormone – which in turn hikes blood pressure and heart rate. The spike is especially high during penalty shootouts, which will come as no surprise to millions of England fans whose nerves have been tested time and again. To help supporters get through the highs and lows of tournament season, Asda Pharmacy is offering free, walk-in blood pressure checks with no appointment necessary. Ex-Lioness goalkeeper Carly Telford visited her local Asda Pharmacy to get her vitals checked and explain why it鈥檚 so important. 鈥淎s a goalkeeper, I鈥檝e faced plenty of high-pressure moments on the pitch – my heart racing when the game鈥檚 on the line,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t can feel the same for fans too; we鈥檙e a nation passionate about football. 鈥淭his summer is a perfect reminder that keeping an eye on your blood pressure is vital, so I鈥檓 proud to support this Asda Pharmacy initiative and encourage everyone to pop in for a quick, free check-up.鈥 High blood pressure affects one in four adults in the UK and is a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. Often symptomless, an estimated 5.5 million people in England have the condition without realising it. Regular checks are essential to detect and manage it early. Faisal Tuddy, Asda Superintendent Pharmacist, said: 鈥淎t Asda Pharmacy, we鈥檙e proud to offer quick and convenient health services like free blood pressure monitoring to help our customers stay on top of their wellbeing.鈥 Faisal advised fans not to wait until kick-off to discover their stress levels – knowing your numbers in advance means you鈥檙e better prepared to manage your health through the most nail-biting moments. 鈥淥ur pharmacists also provide expert advice and support on managing heart health and other common conditions,鈥 he added. 鈥淣o appointment is needed – just come in and let us help you stay match fit this summer and beyond.鈥 All blood pressure checks are provided free of charge and conducted in private consultation rooms at Asda鈥檚 in-store pharmacies.