Experts have warned against high consumption of salt, tobacco, alcohol, sedentary lifestyle, and other activities that may predispose one to developing high blood pressure or worsen existing ones.
In a study tagged, “Managing Hypertension Among People Living with HIV- An Integrated Model, (MAP-IT), University of Abuja, they gave the advice in Obot Akara and Itu Local government Areas of Akwa Ibom State on Friday during a community sensitization campaign in commemoration of World Hypertension Day with the theme: “Measure your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control it, Live Longer.”
The Associate Professor in Community Medicine, University of Uyo, and Co-Investigator in the MAP-IT programme, Cardiovascular Unit, Emmanuel Ekanem, called on every adult, especially those in the rural areas to always check their blood pressure at the nearest primary health care centers to be placed on a proven anti-hypertension treatment and counselling if found high.
He noted that studies have shown that hypertension is common in the communities especially people with HIV hence the move by MAP-IT to step down the sensitization to the rural communities and target the HIV population.
Ekanem stated that the prevalence rate of hypertension in Akwa Ibom is between 33 to 34 percent which implies that in every 100 adults, about 34 persons have high blood pressure.
According to him, “What MAP-IT is trying to do is to bring down BP management to the rural levels, stepping down uncomplicated hypertension treatment to the primary health care centers while the cases of severe hypertension are referred to the secondary health care facilities.
“We want people to be conscious of their health, even those not hypertensive should also adjust their lifestyle. Always read the labels of processed foods you buy, check the ones with low sodium content, and avoid the ones with high sodium content. The world is almost going saltless. Sodium which is salt is naturally seen in all the food we eat so we have to be mindful. Avoid intake of alcohol, and tobacco. A recent teaching by WHO is that no quantity of alcohol is safe for human consumption.”
One of the Practice Facilitators of Map-IT, Evelyn Eyo harped on the need for weight reduction in BP management noting that high blood pressure if not well managed could lead to stroke, heart attack, kidney failures, poor libido even as she cautioned against the use of packet seasonings in cooking as they have the tendency of increasing blood pressure.
Eyo warned that even if BP patients take their drugs consistently and fail to adjust their lifestyle by avoiding alcohol, engaging in exercise, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, cutting down salt intake, drinking enough water among others; the high blood pressure will never come down.
On her part, Grace Uyio, another Practice Facilitator urged people to be intentional about their health and diet saying that an adult above 18 can have a raised blood pressure hence the need to check regularly and avoid factors that can engender it.
She also urged the people to disabuse their minds that hypertension which leads to stroke is caused by a slap from ghosts saying that it’s a cardiovascular disease that could be detected on time and be managed.
“A lot of misconceptions here, a lot of people are dying of cardiovascular diseases caused by hypertension thinking that it is a a slap from the gods. Instead of taking the person to hospital, they will take him/her to a native doctor, and the person will eventually die.
“Another thing is when I go to the market, I see some women buying fats that are supposed to be thrown away, I always tell them that it’s not right, some of our people when they want to eat tapioca, pawpaw etc they sprinkle salt, it is wrong,” she added.