I received an SMS from a reader requesting advice on lifestyle changes necessary for living with persistently high or raised blood pressure (hypertension) a while ago but because of the immediate risk and urgency of Ebola, I had to wait until now before I could address this ‘silent’ killer disease that is so rife within and outside of Nigeria. To the reader who sent the SMS, I am sorry you had to wait this long and I hope my response is worth the wait.Many family members and friends have simply complained of a headache, heart palpitation or a little twinge in the chest, went to bed and just did not wake up. We had a family friend who did exactly that. He was suffering from diabetes and poorly managed hypertension. He imbibed all sorts of drinks and delicacies – a typical lunch comprised of cow foot, goat meat and innards with 4 wraps of pounded yam and a late supper of Catfish pepper soup with all its fats and a tiny bit of bitter leaf(if any) floating on top of the ‘soup’, – all washed down with the coldest of beers. I was constantly warning him of the need to reduce his meat and beer intake but he ignored all warnings. He went to bed complaining of a bad headache at the age of 62 and never woke up. It was a sad loss for my family and society lost a very fine and kind gentleman.
Continue reading after the cut....
High blood pressure as the name implies is when your blood pressure(BP) is higher than the ‘normal’ figure of 120/80mmHg. According to medical experts, this ‘normal’ figure is measured against a range when the heart beats and when it is at rest. The top number being the systolic is the pressure exerted by the blood when the heart beats, forcing the blood into the blood vessels, while the bottom number is called the diastolic, which is recorded when the heart is at rest in between beats, when the blood pressure is at its lowest. Both figures are measured in millimetres (mm) that a column of mercury (Hg) reaches under the pressure exerted by the blood.
It is simply a condition in which blood is pumped at a rate which makes it push too hard against the inner walls of the blood vessels, hence increasing the pressure, during blood circulation around the body. Anyone with a persistent BP of 140/90mm or over is hypertensive – the higher the numbers recorded, the more difficult it is for blood to flow through your vessels and the greater the strain on the heart which is required to pump blood containing oxygen throughout the whole body – and when any part of the body is denied that regular supply of oxygenated blood, it begins to die. The reason it is called the ‘silent killer’ is that it usually sets in and stealthily starts to place a big strain on the heart and arteries, and damage delicate tissues, such as the eyes and kidneys, without you being aware of it. You may not have the usual symptoms of recurrent headaches, nervousness, insomnia, irritability, dizziness, burning sensations on the legs and hands, heart palpitation, chronic fatigue, blurry vision, nose bleeding and tinnitus (a ringing sound or buzzing in the ears) to name a few. The late symptoms are usually a hypertensive heart disease with enlarged heart and possible left ventricular failure, myocardial infarction, possible senility, cerebral haemorrhage, paralysis, and death. These symptoms may vary from person to person. If you are experiencing two or more of the above initial symptoms, it is imperative you visit your doctor or practitioner for regular checkups. It only takes a few minutes to have your blood pressure taken or you can invest in a home unit – the upper arm one is better. Take a reading before you get out of bed consistently for three days and if your blood pressure is persistently high then urgent measures must be taken. We shall look at the causes and predisposing factors of hypertension next week. Don’t forget to get yourself tested; it could save your life.
- Buki Fagbenle/Leadership
Share your thoughts...thanks!
No comments:
Post a Comment