Blood pressure check

[TriGuy-J]

If someone asked you in the street to check your blood pressure because it could give an early warning of heart disease would you do it?

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

My initial reply was NO! But then I read your profile. With increasing a obesity and associated problems like heart disease and Type II diabetes at younger ages I think it would be beneficial for people to have health MOTs far earlier. Every 10 years from 20 y.o. might be sensible. It could save money in theonger term. But I think I would be dubious about people taking my BP in the street!

Was your heart attack caused by BP issues!

[TriGuy-J in reply to MichaelJH]

Thanks for your honest reply. To be totally honest, I never found out exactly what caused my heart attack. I was told it was a blockage that could have developed through lifestyle choices or it could have been something that I had from being young and it just got worse over time.

My BP and cholesterol are and have always been good. Probably down to being quite active. Which I was told helped a lot when I had my HA and for recovery.

The main reason I ask is that I am doing a master's degree in graphic design and wanted to focus my whole 'question' around a topic close to my heart. I have been doing research around ways to find heart disease early or at least indicators that may suggest heart issues. BP was something that came up as being an easy way to check before going to a GP for a more in-depth investigation.

[SPV123]

I check my BP at home myself, so i don't have to bother having it checked in the street, but on a serious note, i wish someone would have stopped me and asked to check it a few years ago,

[TriGuy-J in reply to SPV123]

Thanks. Because mine came on so quickly it would have had to been close to when I had my HA to see elevation. But, due to my family history, I think I would stop for 2 mins for a check and a chat.

[bantam12]

Depends who it was asking, if it was some random weirdo then obviously no but if was a proper screening promotion then probably yes.

[TriGuy-J in reply to bantam12]

Thank you. This is for a master's degree project I am doing so I wouldn't be doing it as a random it would be promoted correctly and I wouldn't be putting pressure on anyone.

I was thinking of doing some kind of pop-up-type booth, with full branding and marketing so people knew it was a real thing. Maybe even promoting it through social media etc and telling the world where we would be. This might encourage people who knew they would be around that area to come chat and maybe take the test.

[jeanjeannie50]

That has happened to me, someone stopped me in the street years ago and said they were doing BP checks in a hall there. Was glad to have it done and it showed my BP just slightly high.

[TriGuy-J in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks for the reply and I am really happy someone has done this before. It gives strength to the idea that it could help others. And to be honest, if it helps one person then I will take that as a win.

Out of interest, what did you do after you found this out? Did you do anything about it or did the people offer advice on what to do or where to go next?

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to TriGuy-J]

No it wasn't that high and the little bit it was would have been because of nerves, don't think I'd ever had my BP taken before. It was long before my atrial fibrillation started. I think it's a good thing to randomly check people that way.

[TriGuy-J in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks for commenting and replying. I do think it is good to get checked earlier in life for sure.

[Padhappy]

Even better to explain to folks as well that high blood pressure damages the arteries over time and this can lead to a build up of rubbish in any of your arteries including your legs as well as in your heart.

[TriGuy-J in reply to Padhappy]

Thank you. Yes, I totally agree and the idea I am going with is a pop-up-type booth that will be able to offer all kinds of advice, etc on what to do if it is high or the effects it could have on the body. I was going to see if the BHF would back the idea and maybe try and go national with the idea? I think it is a cheap way of checking and raising awareness.

[RufusScamp]

It would depend on whether it looked like a genuine programme, or some sort of scam, like finding it's high and selling you expensive snake oil. I check mine at home anyway (occasionally)

[TriGuy-J in reply to RufusScamp]

hahaha no snake oil 100% genuine. It is for a project I am putting together and this would form part of the end result. I am a graphic designer so it would look professional and I hope to get BHF onboard to back the idea, maybe get it national.

[seasider18]

We met a lady when we were sitting outside in Brighton having a sandwich for lunch whose job it was to go round building and industrial sites checking BP and advising those with systolic over 90 to see their GP's.She did not offer to take mine which would on ocasions have probably have shocked her

[TriGuy-J in reply to seasider18]

Thanks. I am guessing that if she did take yours and got a high reading you would advise her that you regularly go to the GP for checks?

This idea is to try and educate those that may have a high or low reading on what to do if they have no clue.

[Hidden]

You can buy a good quality blood pressure meter with an arm cuff for around £30, money well spent, years ago I bought them for all my family as as Christmas present. I'm pleased to say that they all still use them. As we know high BP is asymptomatic, you only know if you have it by checking.

[TriGuy-J in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. Good advice and something I will think about because of my strong family history.

Have any of your family found high blood pressure with the home checks? and, referred themselves to the GP for further investigation?

[Hidden in reply to TriGuy-J]

Yes, my brother did and is now on medication to lower his BP

[TriGuy-J in reply to Hidden]

Brilliant. That is a positive result from a simple gesture. SOmething I hope to replicate with the project I am going to run. Kudos to you!

[Danceawaytheblues]

I was shopping in Croydon many years ago. They had a pop up white `tent` and were asking people if they would like to have their BP taken. I think that they were from BHF or similar. I had mine taken and was advised to see my GP which I did. I, for one was glad to know. Just my take on this.

[TriGuy-J in reply to Danceawaytheblues]

Thanks. I'm happy you got checked and this sort of 'test' has been done before and been successful. Gives me hope that what I am going to do will be something that could help others.