We provide a Blood Pressure screening service in our pharmacy without the need for an appointment. The test will only take about 2 minutes and will be carried out in our private consultation room. You will have to sign a consent form prior to the screening service which will outline how the test will be performed. If referral is deemed necessary by our staff, a referral form will be filled out for you to present to your GP.
What is Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure measures how strongly blood presses against the walls of your arteries (large blood vessels) as it is pumped around your body by your heart.
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (which is written as mm-Hg) and it is recorded as two figures:
- Systolic Pressure: the pressure of the blood when your heart beats to pump blood out
- Diastolic Pressure: the pressure of the blood when your heart rests in between beats.
Why is it important to get your Blood Pressure checked?
It is very important to get your Blood Pressure checked because people suffering with High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) usually have no symptoms!
High Blood Pressure causes gradual damage to the blood vessels and the heart without any obvious symptoms. If left untreated this damage progresses over time and may result in stroke, heart attack or kidney damage. High Blood Pressure is a major risk factor in Cardiovascular Disease. Cardiovascular Disease is currently Ireland’s number one killer and more people die each year from cardiovascular disease than die from all cancers combined.