When cardio-oncology research nurse Susan Lightfoot volunteered to do blood pressure checks for the May Measurement Month campaign, she didn’t think she would be the one getting a surprise.

The young, healthy nurse took her own blood pressure and got a rude shock, despite the fact that she says she ‘felt completely fine.’

Susan says, “Initially my blood pressure was 160/90 and all three readings over the five-minute period were much the same. I was surprised and slightly concerned. I made an appointment with my GP for one week later.

“I do have a strong family history for cardiovascular risk factors. Five and a half years ago, I was unhealthy and about 25 kgs overweight. Since then, I’ve been doing F45 five days a week, I’ve reduced my alcohol intake, eat a healthy diet, and have kept the weight off. I am the healthiest I have ever been,” says Susan.

Despite all of this, Susan says that this year has been stressful due to her mother needing to go into a care facility because of Alzheimer’s Disease.

“I am a single mum with three kids,” says Susan.

“I work one day a week as a midwife and work as a research nurse the other days. Organising everything for my mum, including packing up and selling her house, has put me under a lot of pressure.”

Susan’s GP suggested that she have a blood pressure monitor fitted for 24 hours of continuous monitoring.

“I returned to her for results and I was diagnosed with hypertension. My 24-hour blood pressure readings gave a result with a mean of 143/94.

“She prescribed low dose blood pressure medication – Telmisartan APO 40mg daily – and asked me to come back in three to six months for follow-up.

“Despite the fact that I am a healthy, fit, 41-year-old woman, long-term poorly controlled blood pressure puts me at a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, and kidney damage. I will probably be on this medication for the rest of my life but it’s a low dose and it will lower my risk of developing long-term cardiovascular disease,” says Susan.

She has one message to share following her scary experience: GET CHECKED PEOPLE!

“No wonder cardiovascular disease is in the two top causes of death for Australians. We all have stories of knowing a friend or relative who has had a health scare, or heart attack and died,” she says.

“I step into a hospital almost every day of my life. Had HMRI not launched May Measurement Month to raise awareness of hypertension, how much longer would I have been putting myself at risk of detecting heart disease?” says Susan.

Find out more information about May Measurement Month here