Over the years, health challenges among third world nations stems from ways of controlling malaria and communicable diseases.This trend has however changed as developing countries in Africa and Nigeriain particular now battle with numerous cases of high blood pressure also known as hypertension amongst its citizenry.
Recent statistics emanating from medical professionals in the country reveal that high blood pressure is no longer associated with age as it used to be.High blood pressure (hypertension) can be present in the body without the individual showing any symptoms leading a damage of the blood vessels which can lead to a heartattack and stroke in severe cases hence, the reason it is usually referred to as a‘symptomless silent killer’.The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that 46 percent of adults in the African region countries are hyper tensive with adult males having a higher meansystolic (contraction of the heart) blood pressure than adult females.
The report also has Nigeria topping the list of males and females with highest percentage of adults 51 percent for malesand 49 percent for females. The WHO blamed this on increasing urbanization and unhealthy lifestyles.
The causes of high blood pressure cannot be clearly stated but according to medical experts, high blood pressure generally develops over a long period of time and it affects almost everyone. Its causes ranges from too much in take of salt, lack of exercise, inadequate fruits and vegetables in diets, too much alcohol, stress,genetics, thyroid problems and also lack of sleep.Some of its symptoms include nose bleeds,anxiety, severe headaches, shortness of breaths etc. The good news is that it can easily be detected and once you know you have high blood pressure, you can learn to control and manage it.While there is no cure, it is advised that medications be used as prescribed and making positive changes can help reduce the risk of a heart disease and enhance the quality of life.
It is also important to know your numbers.The best way to know if your blood pressure is in a healthy or unhealthy rangeis to get it checked. If high blood pressureis diagnosed, regular monitoring can helpmonitor confirm if you have high blood pressure, detect patterns and alert youon any changes. It will also indicate if your changes are working. However, some of its preventive measures for hypertensive patients are regular exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, stress management (rest and sleep), avoid smoking and alcohol, reduction in salt intake andmaintain a healthy weight.There are also certain foods that have been known to help lower blood pressure. They are; grape fruit, guava, garlic, black berries,skimmed milk, spinach, potatoes, soya beans,banana, water melon, lemon, kiwi fruit etc. Also drinking fresh organic coconut water preferably in the morning helps to reduce blood pressure. High blood pressure is a serious health condition that can be effectively managed ifnot prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle;you can reduce high blood pressure, preventor delay the development of high blood pressure, enhance effectiveness of blood pressure medications and also loweryour risk of a heart attack, heart failure orstroke. Each year, in the UK around 170,000 people lose their lives to a heart or circulatory disease – that’s one person every three minutes. By joining the thousands of other Dechoxers, you can help the BHF keep more hearts beating and blood flowing.
