Blood pressure checks search for silent killer

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull gets his blood pressure checked to raise awareness of the 2015 Big New...
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull gets his blood pressure checked to raise awareness of the 2015 Big New Zealand Blood Pressure Check, which is being held on Saturday. Photo by Gregor Richardson
Being mayor of Dunedin is a job that has been known to raise Dave Cull's blood pressure from time to time.

For that reason, a St John ambulance paramedic was on hand in the Dunedin City Council's smoko room yesterday, to check Mr Cull's and other staff members' blood pressures, to make sure they don't pop their clogs any time soon.

And just as well they did.

Of the 108 Dunedin City Council staff who had their blood pressures tested, 24 of them were referred to their GP for further investigation and treatment after finding their blood pressure was higher than normal.

One staff member recorded 180/120 (120/80 is normal) and was sent directly to their GP, Ms Hyslop said.

''That's dangerously high.''

Mr Cull said about 15 staff members were also identified as being ''at risk'' during last year's check.

''So it's really well worth doing,'' he said.

The annual council staff blood pressure check aimed to raise awareness of the 2015 Big New Zealand Blood Pressure Check, which is run by the New Zealand Stroke Foundation in more than 200 communities across the country this Saturday.

Stroke Foundation chief executive Mark Vivian said someone with high blood pressure was up to seven times more likely to have a stroke than a similar person with normal blood pressure.

''So the campaign is about letting people know how they can lower their blood pressure if it's high and to pay more attention to their risk of stroke.''

The annual event also aims to break records for the number of people who have their blood pressure tested in one day.

More than 700 volunteers from St John, Rotary and other health organisations will offer the free blood pressure checks to the public, and it is hoped more than 20,000 New Zealanders will get checked on the day.

Free blood pressure checks will be available on Saturday at Balclutha New World, Kurow Four Square, Lawrence Four Square, Mosgiel New World, Palmerston Four Square, Ranfurly Four Square, Milton Four Square, Alexandra New World, Cromwell New World, Frankton New World, Wanaka New World, City Centre New World (Dunedin), Dunedin City Council, Dunedin Pak'nSave, Roslyn Pharmacy (Dunedin), Gardens New World (Dunedin) and Port Chalmers Four Square.

As it turns out, yesterday's test confirmed Mr Cull's blood pressure is fine and he is fit to continue for another term as mayor - if he wants to.

He declined to confirm if he would stand for mayor again.

john.lewis@odt.co.nz

 


Blood pressure

• High blood pressure (consistently above 140/90) puts stress on the walls of blood vessels and can cause them to break down, which can lead to a stroke.

• It can also accelerate common forms of heart disease, or cause blood clots or plaque to break off the artery walls and block a brain artery, causing a stroke.

• High blood pressure is often called ''a silent killer'' because people can have high blood pressure without experiencing symptoms.


 

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