Hypertension: Medical Experts Advise Patients With To Live A Healthy Lifestyle
As Nigerians mark the 2022 World Hypertension Day (WHD) today, medical experts warn that worldwide, there are more than one billion hypertensives, and the figure is expected to rise to 1.5 billion by 2025. Cardiovascular ailments (heart diseases) are the commonest cause of death affecting about 38 per cent of the adult population just as hypertension.
The World Hypertension League (WHL), which is composed of many health societies and leagues globally, established the WHD in May 2005. The theme for this year’s event is: “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer.”
Professor Basden Onwubere, the Chairman of the Nigerian Health Foundation (NHF) Hypertension Committee, while he spoke during a Zoom meeting which had been organised by the foundation to commemorate the WHD, explained that more than half of the individuals who are living with hypertension were unaware of their ailment, as the awareness levels in some of these countries are less than 30 percent.
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A nationwide survey that was done in Nigeria and published around 2 decades ago by Akinkugbe ET Al brought up the awareness level for hypertension at 30 per cent, even though recent publications have not shown any significant improvement to it.
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Professor Onwubere campaigned for an adequate control of this sickness by urging a reduction in salt consumption and the implementation of the “No added salt” rule after the preparation of food. He advised that, “it is better to maintain healthy weight, avoid sedentary lifestyles and exercise at least 30 minutes daily.”
NHF’s Executive Director, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye, the NHF Executive Director, stated the foundation was itself partnering with local councils, government, pharmaceutical companies, churches, schools, hospitals and others to spread the message.
“There is a charge to the government, medical experts, institutional bodies, elite and the likes to go back to our communities and create awareness about hypertension in ways in which it can be prevented and controlled.”
