Do you have high blood pressure? 2 out of 3 people in Ireland over 50 do, and half of them don't even know they have it. If you are over 30, you should have your blood pressure checked at least every 5 years. If your blood pressure is borderline high (around 140 over 90), it should be checked more often.A person with high blood pressure may feel well, look well and rarely has any symptoms. The only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have it measured.
If you have High Blood Pressure you are more likely to suffer Heart Attack or Stroke, especially if you also smoke or have diabetes or high cholesterol, so it is not a minor matter.
What can you do about it? Controlling blood pressure with lifestyle and medication can prevent damage to your body. We can help you diagnose and manage your blood pressure to reduce the risk of suffering stroke or heart attack.
We will measure and record your blood pressure periodically when you attend the surgery, even for unrelated matters.
We provide 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, a test where you wear a blood pressure measuring device that records your blood pressure several times an hour for 24 hours, which is a more reliable way to diagnose your blood pressure.
Many people check their own blood pressure at home, and this can also help diagnose and control your blood pressure.
The Irish Heart Foundation website gives useful and reliable information about Hypertension, Blood pressure monitors, and other heart conditions.