Did you know that uncontrolled high blood pressure can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke? The Croí Third Age Mayo programme, which aims to promote healthy cardiovascular ageing, is delighted to partner with local pharmacies across Mayo for the month of May to offer free blood pressure checks to anyone who has not had their blood pressure checked in the past year, with a particular focus on those over 55 years of age.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, occurs when the force of the blood flowing through your blood vessels is consistently too high. This causes many harmful effects on the body and if left untreated, can significantly increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. High blood pressure typically has no symptoms - the only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked regularly (at least once a year ).
"We’re delighted to be back in Mayo this year following the success of last year’s May Measurement Month campaign. The prevalence of high blood pressure in Ireland, particularly for people over the age of 55, is startling. At last year’s blood pressure measurement event in Mayo, 51% of people had elevated blood pressure, and only 37% of people taking medication for high blood pressure had a reading that was under the recommended level. Early detection is key and will save lives", said Dr Lisa Hynes, Croí’s Head of Health Programmes.
From May 3 to 31, over 30 pharmacies across Mayo will be participating in the initiative. Visit one of the participating pharmacies for your free blood pressure check and ‘Own it, Check it, Sort it!’. For the latest list of participating pharmacies, please visit www.croi.ie/third-age-mayo-bp
Those found to have high blood pressure will be offered information and advice, as well as the opportunity to take part in a free Croí blood pressure management programme delivered by the Croí multi-disciplinary health team.
The participating pharmacies include: Achill – Molloy’s; Balla – Life Pharmacy; Ballaghaderreen – Molloy’s; Ballina – Molloy’s (Bunree Road ), Molloy’s (Garden Street ), Kilroy’s, McKane’s; Ballinrobe – Hynes; Ballyhaunis – Curley’s; Bangor Erris - Lavelle’s; Belmullet – Lavelle’s, McCormack’s; Castlebar – O’Donnell’s, MacAuliffe’s, Treacy’s, Staunton’s; Charlestown – Colleran’s; Claremorris – Haven Pharmacy, Aran Health Pharmacy; Cong – Cong Pharmacy; Crossmolina – Molloy’s, Quinn’s; Foxford – Heneghans; Kilkelly – Life Pharmacy; Killala – Lavelle’s; Kiltimagh – Heneghans; Knock – Life Pharmacy; Louisburgh – Staunton’s; Swinford – O’Connell’s; Westport – O’Connell’s, O’Donnell’s, McVann’s, Treacy’s.
