Hypertension: You need to know

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Bi-Weekly Health Blog – 01

HYPERTENSION: YOU NEED TO KNOW

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) is a serious medical condition that increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease, brain damage, blindness, and other non-communicable diseases like diabetes mellitus. WHO reports that about 1.5 Billion person are currently living with hypertension and 27% of these persons live in the WHO African Region. Hypertension is indicated for adults whose blood pressure value is 140/90 mmHg or higher.

Hypertension is caused by a number of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. Poor or unhealthy diet that includes the excessive intake of table salt, high saturated fat content, and low fruits and vegetables consumption is one of the major modifiable risk factor of hypertension. Other modifiable risk factors include physical inactivity, tobacco smoking, harmful consumption of alcohol, and obesity. Non-modifiable factors are predominantly age over 65 years old, family history, and underlying disease conditions like kidney disease and diabetes mellitus.

Hypertension is usually asymptomatic in most cases. It has been termed a “silent killer” because most persons with high blood pressure don’t’ know that they have it. It is important to always run a blood pressure test at the beginning of every medical check-up and intervention to aid prompt diagnosis of hypertension and commence treatment.

Hypertension is preventable and treatable. Maintaining a healthy eating habit, reducing daily salt intake, avoiding tobacco, saturated fats, and harmful use of alcohol, eating fruits and vegetables, and increasing physical activity are simple lifestyle habits that will prevent hypertension. In addition, following medical advice, managing stress, and taking prescribed drug regimen will help you restore and maintain a normal blood pressure if you already have hypertension.

Remember, “No symptoms does not mean normal blood pressure.” Check your blood pressure today. Modify your lifestyle habits. Spread the news!

-Ngwoke Ifeanyi

Coordinator for Healthcare, Northeast Region, Nigeria.