HYPERTENSION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Hypertension affects over a billion people globally while majority of those with the disease are untreated and in those treated the disease is not controlled. This year world hypertension day commemoration aims to communicate to the lay public the importance of hypertension awareness and the serious medical complications of it. The theme this year is “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer”. It focuses on combatting low awareness rates worldwide, especially in low to middle income areas, and accurate blood pressure measurement methods. (World Hypertension League)
What is hypertension? Hypertension or high blood pressure is a medical condition wherein there is high pressure generated by the heart on the blood vessels of the body over a long period of time.
How do I know I have hypertension?
This disease does not generally cause symptoms. For that reason, it is commonly referred to as a silent killer because it causes harm on the body without the individual being aware. In rare instances one may experience non-specific symptoms like headache.
Why should we be concerned with hypertension?
It is one of the leading contributors to death. Over a long time, the high blood pressure will cause damage to the different body parts which may manifest as stroke, dementia, blindness, chronic kidney disease, heart attack, heart failure and / or narrowing of blood vessels to the legs and amputations
Who gets hypertension? Anyone can develop high blood pressure including children; however, it is common amongst the adults and the elderly. Men are more affected than women (1 in every 4 vs 1 in 5). Africa has the highest number of people with hypertension in the world. What are the risk factors? The main risk factors for high blood pressure emanated from our lifestyles. Which increased westernization, adopted lifestyles that increases the risk of developing hypertension include excess salt in the diet, excess body weight (exacerbated by excess sugar intake), sedentary lifestyles, smoking, and alcohol use.
How to can we prevent high blood pressure?
As commonly said, prevention of hypertension is better than curative measures. Lifestyle modification is the cornerstone of prevention of high blood pressure. The key lifestyle measures to adopt include the reducing salt intake, especially processed foods (salt is used as a preservative for most foods), increasing intake of fruits and vegetables, avoiding saturated fats and trans fats, avoid tobacco use, reducing alcohol intake, being physically active and reducing intake of sugars (sweets, fizzy drinks, and juices (including 100% juice))
How can high blood pressure be diagnosed?
It can be diagnosed through the measurement of blood pressure with a blood pressure machine at a health facility (home blood pressure monitoring also appropriate). Since this disease may not have symptoms, it is advisable that every individual has their blood pressure checked at least once a year. Those with high blood
pressure will need more frequent checks to assess control.
How is high blood pressure treated?
The mainstay of treatment of high blood pressure is lifestyle modification which if not sufficient then medications should be added. It’s important to note that addition of medications does not substitute lifestyle modifications, rather is an add on.
Dr Mothusi Walter Moloi is a Consultant Physician & Nephrologist at Gaborone Private Hospital