Thyroid UK Support

Get it checked

Moggie
Posted by Moggie
1 Feb 2013
24 comments

Hi All,

Just wanted to warn everyone on here, in case they didn't realise (which I certainly didn't) that unless you ASK for a blood pressure check your GP is unlikely to do one.

My warning comes due to my brother, aged 57, dying suddenly on Saturday from a massive heart attack which was caused by high blood pressure and when we delved a little deeper, even though he had made regular visits to his GP for other reasons, never once did his GP perform the simple task of taking his blood pressure. It has made me angry and very sad that due to a 2 minute check not being done my 82 year old mother is now having to bury one of her children.

So next time you go to the GP's for blood tests or thyroid issues please ASK for this simple test to be done.

Moggie x

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24 comments

fedupsusie
1 Feb 2013
Sorry for your loss

Just to add that BP can quite often be checked at most phamicies and chemists, if anyone doesnt have time for the doctors.

(Though I've always found that GP's tend to check mine, so was unaware its not usual to do so)

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Moggie
Moggie
1 Feb 2013
I have been to my own GP's on numerous occasions in the last few months alone, one of those reasons was for heart palps, and looking back she never once did a BP check on me.

I have mentioned the lack of BP testing to a few people over the last few days and have been amazed at the recurring answer of "they dont do one unless you ask"

Moggie x

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laladrew
laladrew
1 Feb 2013
I'm so sorry Moggie,

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Janeb
Janeb Thyroid UK
1 Feb 2013
Moggie,

I'm so, so sorry to hear about your brother, and how dreadful for your Mum too.
I know how you feel. My husband died suddenly and needlessly at 57 too. It is WAY too young.

Thank you for the warning about BP checks.

I'm thinking of you and your family. Jane x x

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Moggie
Moggie
1 Feb 2013
Thank you for your kind words.

Moggie x

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janjan
janjan
1 Feb 2013
I am so sad to hear this, Moggie.Thinking of you and your family at this sad time. jan xxx

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tingles
tingles
1 Feb 2013
So sorry to hear about your loss Moggie. My thoughts are with you and your family. God Bless xxx

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helvella
helvella Admin
1 Feb 2013
Thank you for thinking of others even now.

Thinking of you and your mother.

Rod

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shaws
shaws Admin
1 Feb 2013
My condolences to you and your family on the death of your brother. You wonder why basic checks weren't done.

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j_bee
j_bee
1 Feb 2013
My sympathies to you and your family. Janet.

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babycatcher7572
babycatcher7572
1 Feb 2013
My heartfelt condolences are sent to you Moggie..how very sad.
Reflecting on the past 2 years, i think a GP has checked my BP once....and i suggested that one!
Ive been monitoring my own though
Hug sent x x

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Clairval
Clairval
1 Feb 2013
That is so very sad Moggie. Thinking of you and your family

Patx

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Clarebear
Clarebear Admin
1 Feb 2013
So sorry to hear this news Moggie - hugs to you and your family.

My GP doesn't usually check my BP, but there is a monitor in the waiting room that patients can use - I will make sure I take advantage of this in future. Thank you. xxx ((()))

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spareribs
spareribs Admin
1 Feb 2013
I'm so sorry Moggie. Thinking of you, mum and family xx

Thank you for the warning, we must make sure we ask in future.

((hugs)) Jane xx

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Angel54
Angel54
1 Feb 2013
So sorry for your loss Moggie.

Thinking of you and your family xx

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Marz
Marz
2 Feb 2013
Thinking of you Moggie at this sad time. Thanks for thinking of us all........... x

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TedHutchinson
TedHutchinson
2 Feb 2013
Lloyds pharmacy do home blood pressure monitors for £15 and the discount supermarkets Lidl and Aldi regularly have them for less than that if you hit the right week.
It's far far better to check your own blood pressure because when you get it done by health professionals or at a pharmacy it's inevitably going to be higher. There is a phenomena called white coat syndrome which pushes up blood pressure when you are being tested by strangers. Many people are on blood pressure lowering meds simply because of white coat syndrome. Overall they find that the meds to lower blood pressure don't actually cut the stroke risk significantly
drmalcolmkendrick.org/2012/...
But testing your blood pressure at home when you are relaxed and not at all stressed will give you a good idea of whether or not your BP is higher than 140/90 too often and give you the incentive to lower it through EXERCISE, or Controlled Breathing or by the use of the many different supplements know to reduce inflammation and high uric acid levels.
Weight loss is probably the easiest way to reduce high BP and a low carbohydrate diet that eliminates wheat, gluten and sugars will probably make it easier for most people.
Getting your Vitamin D level above 125nmol/l and increasing magnesium and omega 3 intake enables your body to deal with inflammation much better and so also reduces the risk of heart disease. (and cancer and diabetes and dementia)

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ellarose1234
ellarose1234
2 Feb 2013
Very true! I was nearly put on meds because of my BP being high at the doctors or at hospital. Bought myself a really decent machine took it to docs when I next had test, nurse used mine after hers...same result...still high but this was good as I knew that once I got out of the surgery the BP was always very good 120/80 ish and because I had it tested in surgery could prove it was correct. Doctors are very good at not believing you!
Sad to have to fight your own corner because of "god doctors" but that's just the way it is. How many hundreds of folk are on meds they don't need I wonder?

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TedHutchinson
TedHutchinson
2 Feb 2013
I did that as well as I thought at £15 the Lloyds BP monitor might not be accurate. So I took my list of readings AND the BP monitor when I went to the surgery,
Got tested using the doctors system and was highish, then used my monitor and it was the same as his reading at the surgery but because it's got a memory the doctor could see what my last 60 readings were and he could see not only that it produced the same readings as he had done in the surgery but also that over the last month I was fine at home.

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ellarose1234
ellarose1234
2 Feb 2013
I can fight my own corner but feel so sorry for those who can't

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Account deleted
anonymous
2 Feb 2013

This comment was deleted.

Phoebs
Phoebs
2 Feb 2013
I am so sorry this has happened. I must tell you that a GP who does not take a patient's BP as a matter of course when seeing the patient (fitting a certain catagory such as age, weight etc)is NEGLIGENT, It's called Preventative Medicine! More peculiarly, they get paid to take BP's regularly, such as once yearly/eighteen months on asymptomatic patients and at least twice yearly on patients of a certain age/catagory and more often if a patient is on BP medication (or the nurse does it ). I think, if you can bear it, it would be helpful for yourself, relatives and other patients to find out why this was not done.

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Stormyone
Stormyone
2 Feb 2013
So sorry for your loss x

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Moggie
Moggie
4 Feb 2013
Thank you all so very much for your kind words at this sad time. It is very comforting for me to know that people on this site care, not only with thyroid issues but on a personal note as well.
Your kindness and words of sympathy mean so much to me as I come to terms with my loss.

Moggie x

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merissa
merissa
5 Feb 2013
Owww moggie, soooo sorry to hear that hunny, thats not good at all, your poor mum, bless her, my heart aches for the family.
big huggs xxxx

glad you have told us,

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