…A Call For Annual Health Check
…More Awareness Needed
By IJEOMA UKAZU
“At 18 I was diagnosed to have Hypertension also known as ‘High Blood Pressure. The news came as a shock to my parents as I was in my first year at the time.
“How it started. In July 2017, I felt unease and frequent anxiety and then decided to check myself at the school medical center; there I was diagnosed. At first, they recommended much rest and adequate sleep at night but to no avail. I resorted to using a sleeping tablet to induce sleep. But, there was still no improvement in my health. I was then placed on BP drugs -Modratics to see my level of response but it was abortive.”
Recounts, Anthony Obi, a final year student at Bida Polytechnic, Niger State, North Central, Nigeria tells The DailyNewswave in an interview said the drugs given to him rather worsened his situation
According to him, “Instead the drugs only worsen the condition resulting to difficulty in breathing, general body weakness, my eyes condition worsened and so on. Although Bp drugs have specification it varies with everyone who suffers from the condition, which works for them. For me, I kept on changing drugs until I stopped taking any medication since it seemed difficult to find out which will work for me.”
To achieve a more fulfilling life, Anthony said he then keyed into reducing stress, watching what I eat, finding more time to relax, and carrying out some activities that keep him at ease.
In another interview with 61-year-old Janet Joseph who is a resident of Lagos State revealed to The DailyNewswave that she has been suffering from high blood pressure for the past 20 years.
She said, “I have learned how to manage the disease. I do not involve myself in strenuous house chores or activities to avoid my blood pressure shooting up.”
Using the updated 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Clinical Practice Guideline, a CDC study shows that about 1 in 25 youth ages 12 to 19 have hypertension, and 1 in 10 has elevated blood pressure (previously called “prehypertension”). High blood pressure is more common in youth with obesity.
According to PLOS Journal, Hypertension is the leading driver of cardiovascular disease deaths in Africa. Its prevalence is highest in older populations. Yet, this group has received little attention in many African countries.
Hypertension, also known as High Blood Pressure is called a “silent killer” because most people are unaware of the problem as it may have no warning signs or symptoms.
The World Health Organization (WHO), has said that an estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 years worldwide have hypertension, most (two-thirds) living in low- and middle-income countries.
WHO said, “The WHO African Region has the highest prevalence of hypertension 27 per cent.
The number of adults with hypertension increased from 594 million in 1975 to 1.13 billion in 2015, with the increase seen largely in low- and middle-income countries. This increase is due mainly to a rise in hypertension risk factors in those populations.
According to AhaJournal, there were approximately 80 million adults with hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa in 2000, and projections based on current epidemiological data suggest that this figure will rise to 150 million by 2025.
Medical experts advised that everyone must make it a way of life to get a blood pressure check once a year.
The medical expert and consultant physician geriatrician, Dr. Ogugua Osi-Ogbu works at the National Hospital Abuja, specializing in providing diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease and disability to elderly people said that this year’s theme: “Measure your blood pressure accurately, control it and live longer” hinge on creating awareness to high blood pressure.
She states that “Checking one’s health should be something one should give to their body as a birthday gift.
“Everyone should have a doctor that has their history and that way, you can track your blood pressure numbers. Tracking makes the caregiver and patient remain intentional about their health.”
According to her, “There are set conditions that should be met when blood pressure is measured. They are: the individual should be comfortably seated -the feat should be flat on the floor and be seated for about two minutes.
In an interview with The DailyNewswave, a medical practitioner, Dr. Chioma Ofoekii reiterated, “Hypertension means a sustained increase in blood pressure above what is considered normal. Though persistent systolic blood pressure (SBP) of greater than 139mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of greater than 89mmHg qualifies as hypertension, adults should aim to keep the SBP below 120mmHg and the DBP below 80mmHg.”
Dr. Ofoekii said it is quite normal for one’s blood pressure to rise occasionally following intense activity and stress, adding that high blood pressure has to be persistent for it to be termed hypertension and when in doubt, the individual should seek medical advice.
She pointed out that hypertension can be classified as essential hypertension or secondary hypertension.
Explaining further, she revealed that essential hypertension accounts for about 90 per cent of hypertensive patients and has no known cause and it is associated with certain risk factors such as male gender, increasing age, family history, obesity, and smoking.
She adds that secondary hypertension, however, can be caused by other diseases such as kidney disease or endocrine disorders.
Dr. Ofoekii advised that adults aged 18 and above are encouraged to check their blood pressure annually, noting that the frequency may increase according to their doctor’s advice, advancing age, blood pressure level as well as the presence of other diseases.
Hypertension As A ‘Silent Killer’
The medical practitioner says hypertension is known as the “silent killer” because it tends to remain asymptomatic even at advanced stages, hence why many do not realize they have the disease until complications arise.
According to her, “As a result, it is not uncommon for the first symptom to be a stroke, heart attack, renal failure, heart failure or eye disease. This is why we encourage people to check their blood pressure routinely.
“Once a diagnosis of hypertension is made by a qualified medical practitioner, non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic approaches can be employed to achieve control. Non- pharmacologic approaches include: Ensuring regular exercise of about 30 minutes a day, quitting smoking, maintaining optimal body weight, ensuring enough sleep, managing stress, dietary modifications, and ensuring control of other comorbidities such as Diabetes Mellitus.
“Hypertension is a chronic disease which can be controlled, but not cured. Patients are advised to adhere to control measures consisting of lifestyle modification, medications, and regular medical follow-up, for life.
One of the biggest challenges we face in the control of hypertension is the tendency for people to assume a ‘cure’, when their blood pressure returns to normal, leading to discontinuation of their medications.
The Role Of Nutrition And A Healthy Lifestyle
According to Dr. Ofoekii, nutrition is an important element of lifestyle modification. Using the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet consists of foods that are low in sodium, and rich in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
The medical expert says the diet has been shown to significantly lower blood pressure as well as ‘bad’ cholesterol, adding that patients are advised to limit their alcohol intake.
Prevention
The best approach to hypertension, she says, is prevention.
Dr. Ofoekii adds that adopting a healthy lifestyle and having a solid health education, can reduce the risk of developing the disease as well as slow the progression of the already confirmed disease.
She said World Hypertension Day is marked on the 17th of May annually to increase people’s consciousness and encourage them to check their blood pressure routinely, take preventive measures and adhere to their medications.
We can contribute by spreading the right message to our local communities, groups, and families and organizing blood pressure screening exercises.
A concerted effort is needed to dispel several myths regarding the perceived symptoms of hypertension, when to seek treatment, and false claims of curative medicines.
A Call To Action
The World Hypertensive League has presented a call to action to stimulate all African countries to adopt several solutions to achieve better hypertension management.
The League set the following 3 goals to be achieved in Africa by 2030: First, 80 per cent of adults with high blood pressure in Africa are diagnosed; Secondly, 80 per cent of diagnosed hypertensives, that is, 64 per cent of all hypertensives, are treated; and thirdly, 80 per cent of treated hypertensive patients are controlled.
To achieve these aims, the League calls on individuals and organizations from the government, private sector, health care, and civil society in Africa and indeed on all Africans to undertake a few specific high-priority actions.
The aim is to improve the detection, diagnosis, management, and control of hypertension, now considered to be the leading preventable killer in Africa.
Merck Foundation through its CEO has continued to invest in medical personnel by providing Hypertension care specialty training to doctors in partnership with African First Ladies and Ministers of Health and has provided over 650 scholarships to doctors from 43 countries.