Last week, we launched the National Hypertension Taskforce Roadmap at Parliament House in Canberra, where we had the privilege of hearing powerful stories from individuals whose lives have been impacted by high blood pressure.
The event commenced with an introduction by Maria Vamvakinou MP, who was joined on stage by Senator Raff Ciccone. Senator Ciccone generously shared his personal journey with uncontrolled blood pressure, recounting how symptoms initially presented during a parliamentary session.
Today, he has it under control but in a post after the event he gave the following important message, “High blood pressure usually has no warning signs or symptoms, so it’s important to visit your GP and have your blood pressure measured.”
Belinda Bennett also shared her poignant story, revealing how she discovered the silent dangers of high blood pressure at the age of 34, during her first pregnancy. Despite feeling well, she was confronted with life-threatening high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia, highlighting the severe risks associated with undiagnosed hypertension.
A few years later, her husband, despite being seemingly fit and healthy, experienced a heart attack and cardiac arrest at the age of 53 due to untreated high blood pressure. He was lucky to survive.
These heartfelt accounts serve as a reminder that high blood pressure can affect anyone, irrespective of age or apparent health. We were collectively urged to prioritise regular blood pressure screenings and encourage our loved ones to do the same, emphasising the crucial role of early detection and management.
You can read more about the event HERE.
And find out about the National Hypertension Taskforce HERE.