Woman's plea for Mayo people to get 'silent killer' check

A woman diagnosed with high blood pressure has urged everyone in Mayo to get theirs checked after research found the ‘silent killer’ is not being properly diagnosed or treated among the over-50s.

Rebecca Fitzsimons, 71, told how despite being generally well, she was diagnosed with the condition, which increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, dementia and some forms of blindness.

“I had no signs, I didn’t even get a headache, and I’m very active,” said the retired French and English teacher from Dublin’s Clontarf.

She was speaking as part of the ‘Before Damage is Done’ campaign, an Irish Heart Foundation initiative to drive public awareness about the dangers of high blood pressure – which often arises without any prior symptoms.

Ms. Fitzsimons said her initial borderline high blood pressure reading late last year was confirmed as high a month later by her GP.

It prompted her to implement lifestyle changes which included losing weight, shifting to a Mediterranean-style diet, cutting out eating late at night, and improving her sleep habits, meaning her blood pressure has returned to normal.

She has also urged others to get their blood pressure checked.

“I don’t want a sudden stroke. And it’s the silent killer. I would be delighted if somebody could be alerted and they say, ‘oh my God, maybe I should get that checked. You feel better about yourself when you’re proactive, when you take action.”

Trinity College Dublin research published earlier this year, revealed ‘substantial and persistent gaps’ in the diagnosis and management of high blood pressure among the over-50s in Ireland. It found that 62% of adults aged 50 and over with high blood pressure were not appropriately managed, meaning they were undiagnosed, untreated, or treated but not controlled - this equates to approximately 445,000 people nationwide.

“There is often no single cause of high blood pressure,” said Janis Morrissey, Director of Health Promotion at the Irish Heart Foundation. “A number of factors combine to raise it, and high blood pressure can run in families. But you won’t know you have it unless you get it checked.

“If you are diagnosed, it means that your blood pressure is consistently higher than it should be. For most people, high blood pressure is 140/90 or more.This measurement will be lower if you have other conditions like diabetes or kidney disease or if you’ve had a stroke or already have heart disease. Knowing your blood pressure is key. Once detected, it is easily treated.

“Your doctor may advise lifestyle changes but there are times too when they will recommend medication.”

Dr. David McConaghy, Irish College of GP’s/HSE Integrated Care Lead for Prevention said: “This campaign aims to raise awareness about the silent symptoms and risks of high blood pressure. The Irish College of GP’s encourages people to get their blood pressure checked and learn more about how to manage their blood pressure before damage is done.”

Susan O’Dwyer MPSI, Head of Professional Services at the Irish Pharmacy Union said: “Local pharmacies nationwide offer blood pressure testing and many also offer 24-hour blood pressure monitoring. We fully support this campaign and continue to encourage people to call to their local pharmacy to get their blood pressure checked.”

The Irish Heart Foundation Mobile Health Unit visits communities across Ireland offering free blood pressure and pulse checks. Further information is available here.