‘Healthy lifestyle can prevent high blood pressure’

FIDSON Healthcare Plc has joined the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the campaign against high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases.

According to its General Manager, Marketing, Mr Ola Ijimakin, reports from WHO showed that one in three adults worldwide has high blood pressure.

Ijimakin, who spoke during the High Blood Pressure (HBP) Day marked yearly on April 7 by the WHO, said: “The proportion increases with age from one in 10 people in their 20s and 30s to five in 10 people in their 50s. The prevalence of high blood pressure is highest amongst some low income countries in Africa; with over 40 per cent of adults in many African countries thought to be affected.”

He said HBP, also known as hypertension, increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure. “It can also cause blindness, irregular heartbeats and heart failure if left uncontrolled. The WHO report also states that worldwide, more than 7.5million deaths are attributed to the condition; about 12.8 per cent of all deaths. This accounts for 57 million Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYS), which accounted for about 3.7 per cent of total DALYS,” he added.

Ijimakin said the alarming rate of high blood pressure globally is a challenge that should not be handled with levity, especially as more people in Africa are exposed to unhealthy behaviours such as poor eating habits, very little physical activity, smoking, excessive alcohol intake and stressful lifestyles.

Consequently, there is the need to create public awareness on the risks associated with high blood pressure and the importance of a healthy life style as a preventive measure.