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| Equipment for measuring blood pressure |
HYPERTENSION IS NOT ONLY FOR THE RICH
Hypertension is not a disease for the rich only, it cuts across gender, race and socioeconomic status. In Nigeria, it is estimated that one in three men and one in four women are hypertensive and this statistics is set to rise to 39million new cases by 2030. That is almost a quarter of the entire adult population in Nigeria. The scary part of this is that these people may not even be aware of their blood pressure status until it is too late. Let's put this into proper perspective,if you are a man in a gathering of thirty business men right now, look around you, even though an elevated blood pressure doesn't show on the face, ten or more of the men gathered there (and this might include you!) might be hypertensive and their health, a ticking time bomb.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND STRESS
Nigerians are going through a lot of stress and pressure right now. With the decline in global oil prices, the delay in passing the 2016 budget into law, the prevailing fuel scarcity bedevilling the nation, power supply mostly off and hardly ever on, the scarcity of the dollar and the fallen value of the naira in the parallel market, power distribution companies pushing for an increase in electric tariffs, companies laying off their employees in order to cope with present realities, unemployment and under employment are on the rise, the rising costs of goods and services, the level of inflation in the first half of the year already at double digit, State governors unable to pay the minimum wage to civil servants with some states owing their workers salaries for up to five months, the traffic situation on the roads of major cities in Nigeria, such as Lagos, always at a gridlock, even the weather seems to have conspired against us; there is little or no rain and the heat is worse this year than ever. The climate experts have predicted that the heat wave will last till the end of the year. Every one is feeling the brunt, from the multinationals to the ordinary Nigerian on the streets. These are indeed hard times and all these stress, if not managed properly, can put a serious strain on the heart, thereby, leading to a blood pressure going through the roof.
The average Nigerian self medicate and don't believe in visiting a hospital until the sickness makes a turn for the worse. We fancy ourselves as trained medical practitioners and we self diagnose and treat ourselves and our loved ones. We don't believe in going for regular medical checkups until we are very, very sick. This is the reason why most Nigerians are unaware of their blood pressure status. It has been said that a large majority of Nigerian live below a dollar a day and the cost of a regular blood pressure check, may deter some from doing so. But in my opinion, many Nigerians are simply nonchalant and indifferent about their health and ignorant of the risks and health consequences of having an untreated high blood pressure. People don't care or think it necessary to spend money and time on their health, they would rather spend it on frivolous pleasures.
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SYMPTOMS OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Hypertension or high blood pressure is and remains one of the most prevalent and common forms of cardiovascular disease in the nation and in the world. It is the major cause of stroke and heart attack each year in Nigeria. If left untreated, it can also lead to kidney failure and vision problems. The higher above normal the blood pressure, the greater the risk of heart disease. The ideal blood pressure should be 120 over 80 or less, but less than 140 over 90 is still considered ok. Anything above 140 over 90 is considered high and the risk of having a heart attack or a stroke is increased. An elevated blood pressure puts the heart under so much stress, forcing it to work harder and to grow weaker. And because, the symptoms are so subtle, it can be easily overlooked or misdiagnosed and this makes hypertension so very dangerous. Symptoms to look out for include; persistent and severe headache, extreme fatigue, dizziness and confusion, pain in the chest, irregular heart beat, vision problems, blood in the urine, hearing the sound of your heart pounding hard in your chest, neck and ears.
RISK FACTORS OF HYPERTENSION
The only way to know for sure your blood pressure status is through regular checkups. However, there are some certain risk factors to watch out for and this includes obesity, smoking, a high alcohol consumption and family history. If a family member or a close relative has been diagnosed with hypertension, the possibility of your being diagnosed with it is even higher.
HOW SIMPLE LIFESTYLE CHANGES CAN HELP REVERSE AN ELEVATED BLOOD PRESSURE
Hypertension or high blood pressure can be life threatening if not managed properly but it isn't a death sentence. If you have been diagnosed with the condition, some simple life style changes will go a long way in reversing it. Yes, a high blood pressure can be reversed and below are some simple ways of doing so.
Eat a balanced diet. Your meals should be rich in natural and organic foods such as fruits and vegetables, seeds and whole grains, nuts and legumes. When your meals are healthy, your body will be getting the right combination of nutrients.
Reduce and properly manage stress in your life by staying connected to the people and the things you love. Laugh, smile, be grateful for your blessings and take time to physically and mentally relax every day.
Do not live a sedentary lifestyle. Try not to sit continuously for three hours. Get up, stretch and walk around (Wait a minute, I think I too need to do that right now! ).
Exercise regularly, especially the cardiovascular exercises. When you exercise, feel good hormones are released into your blood stream and your stress buildup burns off.
Maintain a healthy body weight. Remember, obesity is a major risk factor of an elevated blood pressure.
Reduce your salt intake and eliminate processed and fatty foods from your diet while increasing your heart friendly potassium rich foods.
Quit smoking and reduce your alcohol consumption.
Life style changes, consuming a balanced diet and weight reduction should be the first health strategy to defeating high blood pressure. Do take out time to check your blood pressure today and it might just save your life.
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