Urgent warning of ‘silent killer’ with ‘symptoms’: Irish told to act now

An urgent warning has been issued to the Irish over a “silent killer” showing “no symptoms”.

High blood pressure can lead to heart attack, stroke, heart and kidney failure, and dementia.

And the Irish Heart Foundation has launched the ‘Before the damage is done’ campaign in a bid to encourage adults, particularly those aged over 50, to get checked.

Director of Health Promotion Janis Morrissey said: “What you don’t know could kill you because high blood pressure, in the vast majority of cases, has no symptoms. »

Official data shows that 9,652 lives were lost in Ireland to heart disease and stroke in 2022.

Blood pressure is a measure of how well the heart pumps blood around the body – and a high reading, or hypertension, is manageable with medication and lifestyle changes.

A normal reading is around 120 over 80, with high blood pressure defined as 140 over 90 or higher.

Janis added: “The vast majority of people diagnosed with hypertension have no warning symptoms, so it is essential that blood pressure is checked and controlled.

“It’s quick, easy, painless and doesn’t require a blood test.”

The campaign targets people at risk of high blood pressure, whose risk increases with age.

Anyone aged over 30 should be checked every five years and a GP can assess risk levels and advise more frequent checks.

She continued: “There may be a history of hypertension in your family, so a GP will look at cholesterol, weight and lifestyle factors to assess your heart health. »

Consultant cardiologist and medical director of the Irish Heart Foundation, Dr Angie Brown said: “High blood pressure is the biggest risk factor for stroke, as well as heart disease, heart attacks and dementia.

“A quarter of people who suffer a stroke are under the age of 65, which can have devastating consequences not only on a person’s health, but also on their quality of life and financial independence if they are forced to stop working.

“Thousands of local pharmacies offer free blood pressure checks, while most GPs carry them out during general consultations. »

Prescribed medications are a key tool in managing hypertension, but lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet, increasing physical activity, stopping smoking, and limiting alcohol intake alcohol, are also crucial.