Susan Lightfoot was in the best shape of her life, so she was surprised to discover she had high blood pressure . Login or signup to continue reading Ms Lightfoot, 41, had her blood pressure checked through a free Hunter Medical Research Institute [HMRI] program. Ironically, she was helping HMRI do the blood pressure checks.
HMRI has been conducting free blood pressure tests since May. The project runs until the end of July. "I was trying to show some of the other researchers how to take people's blood pressure, so I let one practise on me," said Ms Lightfoot, of Croudace Bay.
When it showed a high reading, she thought "that's a bit ordinary". "I checked it again a week later at the hospital. It was still up, so I went to my GP.
She booked me in for 24-hour blood pressure monitoring," she said. Her result was an average of 143/94. "I was diagnosed hypertensive, so she popped me on some meds.
" Her GP prescribed low-dose blood pressure medication and "asked me to return in three to six months for a follow-up". Ms Lightfoot works two jobs, including shift work, as a research nurse and midwife. "I train five to six days a week at 5am at an F45 class.
I'm the fittest and healthiest I've ever been in my life." It has been a stressful year, with her mum Mia needing to go into a care home due to Alzheimer's disease. Ms Lightfoot had a blood test, showing her cholesterol was high too.
"So I've also been put on cholesterol medication," she said. Ms Lightfoot lost 30 kilograms five year.
