Over half of Irish people do not know what a normal blood pressure level is despite the fact that 53 per cent had their blood pressure checked in the last year and another 17 per cent in the past three years.
The figures are based on new research commissioned by the Irish Heart Foundation in advance of Irish Heart Week 2006, which runs from September 25th to October 1st.
"All Irish adults should know their blood pressure and understand how to keep it at a healthy level, whether or not they are being treated for high blood pressure," said Dr Alice Stanton, chairperson of the Irish Heart Foundation's Council on Blood Pressure.
"Only 33 per cent of people interviewed by Lansdowne Market Research knew that a reading of 120 over 80 describes a normal level of blood pressure."
The Irish Heart Foundation is encouraging those aged over 35 to have a blood pressure check in the near future, as a first step in reducing risk of heart problems. Dr Stanton advised that blood pressure should be checked at least every five years.
"High blood pressure rarely causes any signs or symptoms until damage to blood vessels is well advanced. Unfortunately the first obvious sign may be a heart attack. The only way to check out this risk and is to actually measure blood pressure." said Dr Stanton.
Half the population aged over 50 have high blood pressure, and just over one third know about it and are being treated for it. Untreated high blood pressure is a major risk for cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death in Ireland.
Irish Heart Week is being supported by the Health Service Executive and activities will be held throughout the country.
The week will end with over 300 walks and 8,000 people walking throughout the country on Sunday October 1st to mark World Heart Day.