With World Hypertension Day just around the corner (17 May), experts are calling on Australians to ensure regular blood pressure checks.
This comes following the results of a new study, which reveals that people with hypertension are at increased risk of more severe Covid-19 symptoms and complications.
Awareness of hypertension and its consequences are reportedly low, so this year’s focus of World Hypertension Day is on combatting this and raising awareness of this condition, which is often called the ‘silent killer’ because it can have no immediate symptoms.
When it comes to hypertension – like any other health concern – ignorance isn’t bliss, and the best way to keep on top of any potential blood pressure issues is by having regular blood pressure checks.
Regular checks can help notify people if they’re at risk of hypertension so that they can take the right steps to control the risk.
This is why pharmacy networks, like Blooms The Chemist are encouraging people to roll up their sleeves this month and get a blood pressure check.
Blooms The Chemist Pharmacist and hypertension expert, Andria Aird, who is a strong advocate for having an accurate blood pressure measurement, says that regular checks are important because hypertension can be an indicator of other underlying conditions and can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and cardiovascular disease.
“Other potential side effects,” she says, “include eye damage, kidney damage, erectile dysfunction, and memory loss.”
Ms Aird says that with World Hypertension Day coming up this month, it’s a good time for people to come into a pharmacy to have their blood pressure measured, especially because some people may have high blood pressure without knowing it.
“Hypertension can often have no symptoms,” she says. “Sometimes people have come into our pharmacy to have their blood pressure tested and shown a systolic reading of up to 200mmHg without even knowing it.”
“We encourage Australians of all ages to pop into a Blooms The Chemist to get a blood pressure check, or visit their local GP,” Ms Aird says.
