Missed high blood pressure signs, one crucial check, and a life saved

Published: 21 May 2026

When 38-year-old Stephen Clarke started suffering from frequent headaches and eye issues a decade ago, he tried everything. His GP and ophthalmologist could treat some symptoms, but they just kept coming back.

Without any obvious solutions, he resigned himself to taking over-the-counter pain medication multiple times a week. “It was during a routine visit to my optometrist, who happens to be my sister-in-law,” Stephen says, “she noticed some concerning signs in my eye scans. She urged me to have my blood pressure tested as soon as possible, something that had never come up when I’d previously visited the doctor.”  

“When I asked my GP to check it, the result was alarming. My blood pressure was sky high, reading over 200.”

A blood pressure reading contains two numbers and is referred to, for example, as 120/80. Systolic is the top/first number and diastolic is the bottom/second number. For most people, this is an ideal blood pressure or lower. A blood pressure reading of 200 systolic is very high.

“That night my GP sent me home with a 24-hour automatic blood pressure monitor.”    

The following day, the automatic blood pressure monitor revealed his blood pressure never dropped below 200 and Stephen was immediately prescribed medication.

He was told, if you get ‘the worst headache you've ever had’ he should go straight to Accident and Emergency (A&E).

On his first day of being on medication, Stephen headed off to his workplace in Wellington as usual but wasn't feeling great.  

“While driving home, my headache became very painful. I called my child's creche and asked if they could care for him until my wife could pick him up as I was going to A & E.” He explained his situation at Kenepuru Accident and Medical Clinic in Porirua where staff checked his blood pressure and immediately transferred him by ambulance to Wellington Hospital.  

At Wellington's emergency department, Stephen’s blood pressure was brought down and his medication adjusted.

Since then, he says his blood pressure is controlled by daily medication and lifestyle changes such as eating healthy food, exercising more, and reducing stress levels, and he hasn’t had a headache since.  

“Without my optometrist, I would probably have dropped dead without knowing the cause.”  

Sister-in-law Amelia Hardcastle, an optometrist based in the Manawatu, says optometrists can detect high blood pressure by examining the delicate blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye.

“We often see signs of high blood pressure during a routine eye examination,” she says, “Many of these patients are already on medication and managing their blood pressure, but sometimes people have no idea they have an issue.  

“I see a small number of young men every year with signs of hypertension, although Stephen's case was particularly severe and needed more urgent attention than most.”      

Stephen says that only once he was hospitalised, did he find out his brother and parents were also taking medication for high blood pressure.  

“We have those conversations as a family now, which is great, because it’s just not something we ever discussed before.”

Stephen also points out he may not have been making the most of his GP visits in the past.  

“I found it hard to describe the headache pain and I’d never really had a good conversation about it with my GPs.

“I’m just so thankful that it was found and it is able to be managed easily, without causing any permanent damage to my body, including my heart.”  

Stephen says his challenge now is not to be complacent.  

“I keep pretty healthy and take my medication and haven’t had a headache or eye issue since.”

“I’d encourage others to have those conversations with your family about blood pressure and to get it checked - it could save your life.”

World Hypertension Day is recognised on 17 May 2026, and the Heart Foundation is encouraging New Zealanders to get their blood pressure checked during the month of May at their local pharmacy, GP or at any of the pop-up blood pressure events around the country.

Click the button below to find a location near you

Heart Foundation blood pressure checks

For more information on managing blood pressure visit:

Blood pressure and your heart