IN 2015, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 4 men and 1 in 5 women had hypertension. An estimated 1.13 billion people worldwide have hypertension and high blood pressure is estimated to cause 7.5 million deaths, about 12.8% of the total of all deaths. Almost 13 people in every 100 who die would die as a result of this disease or its complications!
High Blood Pressure or Hypertension occurs when the pressure, or force, with which the blood is pushing your blood against the walls of the blood vessels, is continuously too high. This increased force causes damage to the blood vessels in organs throughout the body and also increases the work that the heart has to do to overcome the high pressure in the blood vessels. Scientific Research continues to show that high blood pressure is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease (Heart Attacks) and ischemic as well as haemorrhagic stroke. In addition to coronary heart diseases (Heart Attacks) and stroke, complications of high blood pressure include heart failure, peripheral vascular disease (poor circulation), renal impairment (kidney disease or failure), retinal haemorrhage (bleeding behind the eyes) and visual impairment (problems with your sight and loss of your sight) and sexual problems!
In Saint Lucia, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death. For this reason, on October 24, 2019 Saint Lucia became the third country of the Caribbean to implement the HEARTS initiative to improve prevention and control of hypertension, one of the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.
The Ministry of Health appeals to Saint Lucians to check blood pressures regularly and also do so by using the appropriate techniques and by using validated or accurate blood pressure monitors. People are also advised to make a habit of controlling blood pressures by taking the prescribed medication. Many antihypertensive medicines take about a month to start making changes in blood pressure and ideally should not be stopped before that. Persons with high blood pressure should monitor blood pressure readings and discuss targets with their health care providers. Too many times persons start medication and stop because they feel that the High Blood Pressure is cured in a month or two. Unfortunately, High Blood Pressure is a chronic disease which can be controlled but not cured.
Other ways of controlling blood pressure and preventing high blood pressure include being active and eating a healthy diet. We must try as much as possible to eat a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low fat dairy products.
We must also avoid eating foods which are high in Sodium. A high sodium intake (salt) is associated with high blood pressure and its complications. Processed foods contain high levels of sodium. The American Heart Association (AHA) has recommended no more than 2300mg (one teaspoon) of salt daily for most adults. Actually to function properly the body only needs ¼ teaspoon of salt daily.