Call For Men To Get Their Blood Pressure Checked

The Irish Heart Organisation (IHO) has called for men to get their blood pressure checked more regularly.

After recent research from its mobile health service revealed that more men than women had high blood pressure, and men were less likely to seek medical help for it, the IHO have declared it important that men have frequent checks with their GP, ensuring that their blood pressure is well managed.

It is estimated that high blood pressure affects almost one million people in Ireland, is a major risk factor in cardiovascular disease and the biggest risk factor for strokes.

Marese Damery, Health Check Manager at Irish Heart, commented: "This is a continuing challenge for those of us who work in the health arena and especially when dealing with a silent risk factor like blood pressure, where a person can feel fine and not know that they have a problem."

Those already diagnosed with high blood pressure are being encouraged to visit the Mobile Health Unit service, following findings which showed that 63% of people who knew they had a history of high blood pressure, still tested high.