Latest news with #Lynnette
Otago Daily Times
11-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Blood pressure awareness campaign highlights 'silent killer'
By Ruth Hill of RNZ One in three New Zealanders over 30 have high blood pressure - but many of them do not even know it. The Heart Foundation is launching its first-ever blood pressure awareness campaign to encourage people to get checked, a move it says could save thousands of lives. Heart Foundation medical director Dr Gerry Devlin said about 350,000 New Zealanders with high blood pressure were not being monitored because they had no symptoms. "That's why it's known as 'the silent killer'. "The first symptom of high blood pressure may well be when you develop a complication of high blood pressure - be it a heart attack or a stroke or presenting with heart failure or kidney failure. "We recognise more and more, it's also associated with dementia, and this occurs over many years. "When the blood pressure is not controlled, it remains high for a number of years, and it can cause stiffening and narrowing of the arteries." Auckland woman Lynnette was diagnosed with high blood pressure in her 20s, when she was living in the Philippines - but she admits she did not take it seriously for some years. "I was trying to sort of ignore it," she said. But shortly after turning 50, she started getting what she thought was indigestion. "I thought it was acid reflux waking me up in the middle of the night. "But [by the] second or third night, I was like 'Hmm, this doesn't feel good' because I had a little bit of chest pain and my left shoulder was getting weak." Lynnette was shocked to learn she had actually been having a series of heart attacks. "I thought heart attacks were sudden and severe. I didn't know they could happen like this, so gradually." Five years on, she is taking regular medication, and her blood pressure is well-controlled. However, Dr Devlin said thousands of other New Zealanders were not so lucky. High blood pressure was a factor in 45% of cardiovascular deaths in New Zealand each year - 4000 people. "If we improve blood pressure by about 50% over the next 10 years, we will prevent 12,000 deaths by 2040. So it's a powerful intervention." Blood pressure checks could be done by a doctor, nurse or at some pharmacies. Dr Devlin said it was advisable for some people to buy their own monitors to track their blood pressure at home. "We want to encourage New Zealanders to get their checks done, understand what the numbers mean and take charge of their heart health to live a longer, healthier life," he said. "For every 10-point drop in your systolic blood pressure, you reduce your risk of a heart event by 20%." 'It's about lifestyle' A blood pressure reading contains two numbers, written as a figure, such as 120/80. The first number is the pressure when the heart squeezes (systolic pressure). The second number is when your heart relaxes (diastolic pressure). For most people, an ideal blood pressure is under 120 systolic (top number) and under 80 diastolic (bottom number). Dr Devlin, who has a family history of high blood pressure himself, said it was not just about medication. "It's about lifestyle. And that means looking at what we eat, can we reduce salt in our diet? "Becoming more physically active, reducing alcohol... so all the things we know we should be doing - or not doing - they all have an impact on our blood pressure." Lynette said she now made an effort to live a healthier lifestyle, but also urged others to "go to the doctor if something feels off". "Don't just assume it's nothing. And if you're on medication, take it regularly - it could save your life."
NZ Herald
11-05-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Blood pressure dangers: ‘Go to the doctor if something feels off'
'The first symptom of high blood pressure may well be when you develop a complication of high blood pressure – be it a heart attack or a stroke or presenting with heart failure or kidney failure. 'We recognise more and more, it's also associated with dementia, and this occurs over many years. 'When the blood pressure is not controlled, it remains high for a number of years, and it can cause stiffening and narrowing of the arteries.' Auckland woman Lynnette was diagnosed with high blood pressure in her 20s, when she was living in the Philippines – but she admits she did not take it seriously for some years. 'I was trying to sort of ignore it,' she said. But shortly after turning 50, she started getting what she thought was indigestion. 'I thought it was acid reflux waking me up in the middle of the night. 'But [by the] second or third night, I was like 'Hmm, this doesn't feel good' because I had a little bit of chest pain and my left shoulder was getting weak.' Lynnette was shocked to learn she had actually been having a series of heart attacks. 'I thought heart attacks were sudden and severe. I didn't know they could happen like this, so gradually.' Five years on, she is taking regular medication, and her blood pressure is well-controlled. However, Devlin said thousands of other New Zealanders were not so lucky. High blood pressure was a factor in 45% of cardiovascular deaths in New Zealand each year – 4000 people. Advertise with NZME. 'If we improve blood pressure by about 50% over the next 10 years, we will prevent 12,000 deaths by 2040. So it's a powerful intervention.' Blood pressure checks could be done by a doctor, nurse or at some pharmacies. Devlin said it was advisable for some people to buy their own monitors to track their blood pressure at home. 'We want to encourage New Zealanders to get their checks done, understand what the numbers mean and take charge of their heart health to live a longer, healthier life,' he said. 'For every 10-point drop in your systolic blood pressure, you reduce your risk of a heart event by 20 per cent.' 'It's about lifestyle' A blood pressure reading contains two numbers, written as a figure, such as 120/80. The first number is the pressure when the heart squeezes (systolic pressure). The second number is when your heart relaxes (diastolic pressure). For most people, an ideal blood pressure is under 120 systolic (top number) and under 80 diastolic (bottom number). Devlin, who has a family history of high blood pressure himself, said it was not just about medication. 'It's about lifestyle. And that means looking at what we eat, can we reduce salt in our diet? 'Becoming more physically active, reducing alcohol ... so all the things we know we should be doing – or not doing – they all have an impact on our blood pressure.' Lynette said she now made an effort to live a healthier lifestyle, but also urged others to 'go to the doctor if something feels off'. 'Don't just assume it's nothing. And if you're on medication, take it regularly – it could save your life.'
RNZ News
11-05-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Blood pressure dangers: 'Go to the doctor if something feels off'
About 350,000 New Zealanders with high blood pressure were not being monitored because they had no symptoms. File photo. Photo: 123RF One in three New Zealanders over 30 have high blood pressure - but many of them do not even know it. The Heart Foundation is launching its first-ever blood pressure awareness campaign to encourage people to get checked, a move it says could save thousands of lives. Heart Foundation medical director Dr Gerry Devlin said about 350,000 New Zealanders with high blood pressure were not being monitored because they had no symptoms. "That's why it's known as 'the silent killer'. "The first symptom of high blood pressure may well be when you develop a complication of high blood pressure - be it a heart attack or a stroke or presenting with heart failure or kidney failure. "We recognise more and more, it's also associated with dementia, and this occurs over many years. "When the blood pressure is not controlled, it remains high for a number of years, and it can cause stiffening and narrowing of the arteries." Auckland woman Lynnette was diagnosed with high blood pressure in her 20s, when she was living in the Philippines - but she admits she did not take it seriously for some years. "I was trying to sort of ignore it," she said. But shortly after turning 50, she started getting what she thought was indigestion. "I thought it was acid reflux waking me up in the middle of the night. "But [by the] second or third night, I was like 'Hmm, this doesn't feel good' because I had a little bit of chest pain and my left shoulder was getting weak." Lynnette was shocked to learn she had actually been having a series of heart attacks. "I thought heart attacks were sudden and severe. I didn't know they could happen like this, so gradually." Five years on, she is taking regular medication, and her blood pressure is well-controlled. However, Dr Devlin said thousands of other New Zealanders were not so lucky. High blood pressure was a factor in 45 percent of cardiovascular deaths in New Zealand each year - 4000 people. "If we improve blood pressure by about 50 percent over the next 10 years, we will prevent 12,000 deaths by 2040. So it's a powerful intervention." Blood pressure checks could be done by a doctor, nurse or at some pharmacies. Dr Devlin said it was advisable for some people to buy their own monitors to track their blood pressure at home. "We want to encourage New Zealanders to get their checks done, understand what the numbers mean and take charge of their heart health to live a longer, healthier life," he said. "For every 10-point drop in your systolic blood pressure, you reduce your risk of a heart event by 20 percent." A blood pressure reading contains two numbers, written as a figure, such as 120/80. The first number is the pressure when the heart squeezes (systolic pressure). The second number is when your heart relaxes (diastolic pressure). For most people, an ideal blood pressure is under 120 systolic (top number) and under 80 diastolic (bottom number). Dr Devlin, who has a family history of high blood pressure himself, said it was not just about medication. "It's about lifestyle. And that means looking at what we eat, can we reduce salt in our diet? "Becoming more physically active, reducing alcohol... so all the things we know we should be doing - or not doing - they all have an impact on our blood pressure." Lynette said she now made an effort to live a healthier lifestyle, but also urged others to "go to the doctor if something feels off". "Don't just assume it's nothing. And if you're on medication, take it regularly - it could save your life." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Remarkable Women Winner 2025: Driven by Ambition, a visionary businesswoman
DALE COUNTY, Ala. (WDHN) – The time is finally here to introduce you to WDHN's 2025 Remarkable Women winner! Our winner gets $1,000 for a charity of her choice, and a free trip to Los Angeles where she'll meet the local winners from other stations across the country. Out of all the local winners, one woman will be named 'National Woman of the Year' and win another $25,000 for a charity of her choice. Out of so many nominations one woman stood out. Our Remarkable Woman is a visionary leader who exemplifies the qualities of innovation, dedication, and service. People like Lynnette DeJesus are born with drive, that strong core of motivation fueling ambition. Lynnette is a true jack of all trades, carrying herself with a level of drive many can only aspire towards. 'Lynnette has an energy about her, that is, i've never seen it to that level before, and i've done, i've worked with a lot of people and I met Lynnette and I was immediately drawn to her,' says Lynnette's friend, Judi Temple Lynnette is a mother of three and the COO of contracting company, JNB Services in Daleville. She oversees multimillion dollar construction projects across the southeast United States, as well as Puerto Rico where her family is from. Her drive as a business woman led her to founding Luxe Mastermind, a nonprofit initiative supporting entrepreneurs. 'Luxe is about collaborating with other businesses, mentorship, giving them that support that they need to take their business to the next level,' Lynnette says. Luxe holds monthly meetings with motivational speakers, provides business education, mentorship, and financial resources for those who need it. 'it's so needed, it's so needed for these small businesses that are trying to do something outside their box, they have a passion, they have a desire, but they need help, and help is expensive, and the fact that all of these people are willing to mentor people–it's priceless,' says Judi Temple Lynnette also dedicates her time as a board member and volunteer for the Wiregrass Honor Flight program. The non-profit sends veterans to Washington D.C. to see the memorials for their service, and show them that their sacrifices are never forgotten. Lynnette embodies what it means to be a driven leader, innovator, community servant, and most of all, a truly, remarkable woman. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
