Each month at Tough Guy Book Club we issue a challenge to our members. It gets us out of our comfort zone and pushes us to try something new, something difficult, and adds a page to our stories. Some challenges are just bloody important, like this month where we asked all the Goons of TGBC to get their blood pressure checked, by a medical professional, in a medical place of work and put some photo evidence on the TGBC socials with the tag #BP25.
High blood pressure, or as those medical professionals call it – Hypertension, is a huge risk factor for heart attack, heart failure, stoke and kidney disease. Some of the biggest killers among men! It can be easily treated, but High blood pressure usually doesn’t go in for symptoms, so it is important get it checked regularly.
It was great to see the Goons out in force rolling up their sleeve and checking their stats.
Those following along have probably noticed that we’ve done this one before. It’s become a regular feature because it’s fucking important, it’s easy to do, and we’ve got results. Those who completed the challenge previously updated on their progress. For some it was reassurance of being in the normal range, same as last time. Great to know! Others recounted their journey since the last BP check threw some questions at them, changes to lifestyle to get a handle on it or medication prescribed to get things under control. Some got a secondary challenge, following up with their doctor to tackle the issue. One well worth doing and a huge shout out to all those following up!
The challenge also gave an unexpected boost to our #RoadTo4000 numbers, the year long challenge to save 4000 lives though giving blood, plasma and platelets. Insider tip, they take you blood pressure at every appointment, and many a Goon took advantage of this, giving a welcome boost toward our target.
It doesn’t have to stop here. Get checked again, get checked often, and those on the border line for results – get checked again soon. This is an easy way to keep men’s health in check, but only if you actually bloody do it!
By Desmond Doyle
