Down with Blood Pressure! The skinny on BP in Ireland

With high blood pressure heavily increasing the likelihood of heart disease and stroke, it’s recommended that everyone get their blood pressure checked at least every five years, increasing to once a year as we get older. This advice becomes particularly pertinent when we read that half of all adults in Ireland over the age of 45 suffer from high blood pressure, and worryingly, perhaps 4 out of 5 men and two thirds of women with the condition are going untreated.

Luckily, there are now more options than ever when it comes to getting checked for this common ailment.

Irish Heart Foundation Blood Pressure Road Show 2014

Perhaps the most convenient and certainly the cheapest option over the autumn months this year is to pay a visit to the Irish Heart Foundation’s free blood pressure testing centres all around the country. A quick visit to http://www.irishheart.ie/iopen24/blood-pressure-road-show-2014-t-8_201_1310.html will give you all the details of the most convenient date and time in your county. In addition to testing and advice, staff will be happy to provide you with helpful free leaflets and booklets, full of information and tips on how to control blood pressure and keep your heart healthy.

Your Local Pharmacist

Pharmacies are increasingly offering blood pressure testing for customers along with medication and consultations, sometimes with appointment, but often as a walk in service. This service is generally available without appointment and free of charge.

Your Family Doctor

Blood pressure is usually taken as a matter of course with any G.P. check up, but if you’re worried or perhaps showing symptoms of low blood pressure (discussed below), a traditional doctor’s appointment will be sufficient to put your mind at ease and diagnose what the problem is. In the event that you are found to have either high or low blood pressure, your doctor will be able to proscribe any necessary medication and advise on how to arrange your diet and lifestyle in order to minimise any potential problems down the line.

When to Get Checked

High blood pressure does not in fact have any visible symptoms, and so it is best to get your pressure checked as often as the minimum durations mentioned above. Though the Irish Heart Foundation recommends a maximum period of one test every five years for younger people, it is a lot better to get regular check-ups and consultations more often than this, even if you are not showing any signs of ill health.

Low blood pressure, or hypotension, can manifest itself in dizzy spells or a feeling of fainting, particularly when standing up. If this is happening to you regularly, it is best to book an appointment for a check.

How Does It Work?

Blood pressure testing takes two minutes and is completely painless. An inflatable cuff is placed over the patient’s upper arm and then inflated. An automatic machine then measures the pressure of blood and displays the results digitally.

John Keane is a full time pharmacist and owner of Keanes Pharmacy. Why not discuss this topic confidentially with John anytime in person at Keanes Pharmacy, Austin Friars or 0449341704 ©Keanes Pharmacy 2014 www.keanespharmacy.com