A growing ailment known as High Blood Pressure, (HBP) also called Hypertension is a popular health challenge that affects mainly adults and ageing people. But these days it is also fast taking the lives of youths if not detected early and treated quickly....CONTINUE READING
It often produces no symptoms, but is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and aneurysm. Managing blood pressure is vital for preserving health and reducing the risk of these dangerous conditions.
It is the force that a person’s blood exerts against the walls of their blood vessels. This pressure depends on the resistance of the blood vessels and how hard the heart has to work.
According to Ifeanyi Ogbe, an Enugu-based doctor, a person with hypertension may not notice any symptoms. Without detection, hypertension can damage the heart, blood vessels, and other organs, such as the kidneys. “If high blood pressure becomes a hypertensive crisis, the person may experience headaches and nosebleeds, but in rare and severe cases, it can cause Sweating, Anxiety, Sleeping Problems or Blushing, Nosebleeds, Buzzing in the ear, Chest pain, and Confusion. Abnormal heart rhythm, Nausea, Vomiting and difficulty in breathing.
“The only way to detect hypertension is to have a health professional measure your blood pressure. Having blood pressure measured is quick and painless. Although individuals can measure their blood pressure using automated devices, an evaluation by a doctor is important for assessment of risk and associated conditions,” he said
He, however, said that most people with hypertension will experience no symptoms at all.
“Some health care professionals diagnose patients with high blood pressure if their blood pressure is consistently 140/90 mm Hg or higher. This limit is based on a guideline released in 2003, but Other health care professionals diagnose patients with high blood pressure if their blood pressure is consistently 130/80 mm Hg or higher. This limit is based on a guideline released in 2017, by Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.
“Many are not quite sure of causes but to be on the safer side, especially the youths, it’s important to know that it can come from Genetics, being overweight or obese, not being physically active, high-salt diet, drinking too much alcohol and old age. These things increase the risk of having high blood pressure.
“Sometimes, if you have HBP, you may wonder if medication is necessary to bring the numbers down. But lifestyle plays a vital role in treating high blood pressure. Controlling blood pressure with a healthy lifestyle might prevent, delay or reduce the need for medication.
“It can be treated by eating healthy (low-salt diet), Losing weight, being physically active (Exercise) and Quitting Tobacco. These things can also be said of avoidance, by Eating more vegetables and fruits, taking medicines as prescribed by your health care professional, keeping appointments with your health care professional, losing weight if you’re overweight or obese being more physically active, which can include walking, running, swimming, dancing or activities that build strength, like lifting weights. (Get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity and Do strength building exercises 2 or more days each week),” Dr. Ogbe said.
He also urges people to be careful of the things they eat because it all comes with complications when HBP is not controlled. “Hypertension can cause serious damage to the heart. Excessive pressure can harden arteries, decreasing the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart.
“It can also burst or block arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the brain, causing a stroke and can cause kidney damage, leading to kidney failure. This elevated pressure and reduced blood flow can cause chest pain, also called angina, or heart attack, which occurs when the blood supply to the heart is blocked and heart muscle cells die from lack of oxygen.
“The longer the blood flow is blocked, the greater the damage to the heart; heart failure, which occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to other vital body organs; and irregular heartbeat which can lead to a sudden death,” he stressed.
WHO’S POSITION WHO RESPONSE
The World Health Organization, WHO supports countries to reduce hypertension as a public health problem.
In 2021, WHO released a new guideline for on the pharmacological treatment of hypertension in adults. The publication provides evidence-based recommendations for the initiation of treatment of hypertension, and recommended intervals for follow-up. The document also includes target blood pressure to be achieved for control, and information on who, in the health-care system, can initiate treatment.
To support governments in strengthening the prevention and control of cardiovascular disease, WHO and the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) launched the Global Hearts Initiative in September 2016, which includes the HEARTS technical package. The six modules of the HEARTS technical package (Healthy lifestyle counselling, Evidence-based treatment protocols, Access to essential medicines and technology, Risk-based management, Team-based care, and Systems for monitoring) provide a strategic approach to improve cardiovascular health in countries across the world.
In September 2017, WHO began a partnership with Resolve to Save Lives, an initiative of Vital Strategies, to support national governments to implement the Global Hearts Initiative. Other partners contributing to the Global Hearts Initiative are the CDC Foundation, the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the U.S. CDC. Since the implementation of the programme in 2017 in 31 countries low- and middle-income countries, 7.5 million people have been put on protocol-based hypertension treatment through person-centred models of care. These programmes demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of standardized hypertension control programmes.
