Hypertension, the silent killer
Early detection of disease and appropriate control of underlying comorbidities are paramount to minimize the chances of fatality during the times of the pandemic. It is now, more than ever, our social responsibility to ensure that we reduce the risk of ourselves and those around us from the complications that could arise from COVID-19, the worst of which is fatality – death.
We know that non-communicable diseases are on the increase exponentially in Africa over the last few years. The implications of this are that the complications that arise from these conditions are also on the rise, many of which are potentially fatal.
A disease with no symptoms: Hypertension
Specialist Doctors meet annually in conferences to study and rethink the guidelines for these conditions, and the end points or desired goals are rethought persistently, considering the number of deaths and disability being caused by each of the NCDs. The worst of all this is that these diseases can not be “felt”, leading to delays in presentation to health professionals for their control, and thereafter they are still taken too lightly by most people. This is the reason they are labelled as “silent killers”.
One of these “silent killers” is hypertension, where blood pressure remains elevated straining one’s heart and damaging vital but fragile organs such as the retina, the kidneys, and the brain. The number of strokes globally in has doubles between the years 1990 and 2014.
Two of the modifiable factors strongly attributing to the rise in hypertension cases are sedentary lifestyle spending more time sitting), obesity due to inappropriately high calorie diets, and increased stress levels. These are attested to by all in the population from the children to the aged, and we are all entitled now to be alert of this as we try to protect the amanat of good health.
So, who should be taking pills to control their blood pressure?
One of the most unjustly defamed medication is that used for hypertension treatment. The communities of people often spread the notion that the medication is “addictive” such that once one starts, they will not be able to stop. Is this true? The answer to this question is found in the fact that one can change their blood pressure medication without weaning off from their previous regimen. That means one does not get addicted to blood pressure medication.
Whether one needs it for life or not, that will depend very much one one’s own body and not the fact that they have already commenced on the medication. For example, if blood pressures are elevated and patients are obese; weight loss to ideal body weight can help to control hypertension it is possible to stop medication under observation of your doctor.
On the flip side though, if one needs to start medication and decided not to do so for reasons of hoping that the blood pressures will be controlled through walking, exercise, stopping salt and reducing stress, then they must understand they are predisposing themselves to a risk of potentially irreversible damage through the high blood pressures over the time they are waiting. This would not make sense to anyone who understands the potential damage the elevated blood pressures could cause.
There are two pertinent social effects that are acting as a hinderance to timely and appropriate treatment for blood pressure:
The feeling fine effect
This refers to the group of people who feel that their pressures are normal because they feel fine. These people believe strongly that they would feel their pressure if it had increased and this leads them to make the mistake of not testing
The pressures are high due to stress effect
This is what leads to delay in treatment to prevent complications as people believe that they are better off not starting and “naturally” controlling their pressures. The question we must ask ourselves is “what guarantee do we have that we will not undergo stress, is it in our control really?” and if not, then wont we be better off protecting ourself from pressure surges and their severe irreversible effects?
Blood Pressure Monitors:
You can check your Blood Pressure (BP) at home also, these modern digital monitors are not expensive and can be life-saving. There are different types from different companies which one can buy directly from the medical store or online from Amazon etc.
CHB – YOUR HEALTH IS OUR PRIORITY
SECRETARIAT
CENTRAL HEALTH BOARD (CHB) OF AFRICA FEDERATION
Date: 10th December 2020