Dilruk Jayasinha is usually known for making people laugh, but this week he's taking on a serious task, joining forces with Stroke Foundation to raise awareness about one the country's biggest killers.
Logie-awarded actor and stand-up comedian, Dilruk is taking part in Australia's Biggest Blood Pressure Check and will be rolling up his sleeves at Southern Cross Station for a quick and painless health check. It's part of a month-long campaign which encourages Aussies of all ages to visit their GP or pharmacy to check if they have high blood pressure.
High blood pressure affects one in three Australian adults and is the leading preventable cause of death in Australia.
Known as a 'silent killer', high blood pressure damages the body's blood vessels, leading to poorer circulation, higher risk of stroke, organ damage and heart disease which Dilruk knows all too well, he was just 37 when he had a heart attack.
"I was experiencing some mild discomfort in my arm and chest, and thought it may be a muscle strain. Just to be safe I went to my GP who sent me to emergency, and they confirmed I'd had a heart attack. They told me I had an 80 per cent blockage in my crucial artery and I was very lucky I caught it when I did," Dilruk said.
Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr Lisa Murphy said a simple blood pressure check could save your life.
"Around seven million Australians have high blood pressure. Nearly half don't know it, and only 32 per cent have it under control," Dr Murphy said.
"The good news is that high blood pressure can be managed through adopting healthier lifestyle changes or medication, but the only way to do this is through regular blood pressure checks, which is why we are calling on all Australians to get their blood pressure checked during the month of May.
"If you're in the area on Thursday, come down to Southern Cross Station from 7am to 10am, a simple and painless blood pressure check may even save your life."
Stroke Foundation is a co-founding member of the National Hypertension Taskforce, assembled to tackle the leading risk factor of death in Australia - high blood pressure. The Taskforce aims to increase the number of Australians with their blood pressure both treated and controlled effectively from 32 per cent to 70 per cent by 2030.
