Mobile Unit’s free checks discovered silent risk factor for Clondalkin woman
By Maurice Garvey
A HIGHLY active pensioner, who has run over 20 mini-marathons, got the shock of her life last year when she discovered she had high blood pressure.
Prior to taking part in what she hoped was to be her 24th women’s mini-marathon last year, Clondalkin resident Elizabeth Simpson (70) went to her GP with a sore eye complaint.
She was severely disappointed when discovering her blood pressure was high, and even more so when she was told not take part in the race.
Shortly after this, Elizabeth visited Irish Heart’s Mobile Health Unit in Liffey Valley, where she had her blood pressure checked again.
The reading was so high that Elizabeth was encouraged to visit her doctor again, and her medication was doubled.
“It frightened the life out of me,” said Elizabeth.
“I didn’t even know I could have high blood pressure, because I’m so active with walking, salsa dancing and singing in the church choir.”
The Irish Heart’s Mobile Health Unit provided Elizabeth with free services including ECG’s, a heart monitor, and she is awaiting test results.
Elizabeth continued: “They are lovely nurses in the van. Only for that van I could have collapsed walking around. Honestly I could not believe it when I got the news about my blood pressure. It could be hereditary, there was heart problems in the family.”
New figures from Irish Heart’s Mobile Health Unit service show that a total of 2,883 people from Dublin have availed of its free blood pressure checks in its first full year of operation.
Officially marking its first anniversary, Irish Heart is appealing to men, in particular, to get checked for high blood pressure, which is a silent risk factor for stroke and heart attack.
Irish Heart’s mobile health unit incorporates professional consultation rooms where attendees can avail of free blood pressure checks.
For details of Irish Heart’s mobile health unit current locations, visit www.irishheart.ie
“Even if people think they have good health, I’d encourage them to get their blood pressure checked,” said Elizabeth, who was back running in the women’s mini-marathon in June.
