17/05/2022
WORLD HYPERTENSION DAY
The theme of this year’s WORLD HYPERTENSION DAY is: Measure Your Blood Pressure, Control It, and Live Longer. According to WHO, about 1.28 billion adults (30-79 years) have hypertension; two-thirds of which are living in low and middle-income countries including Nigeria. This theme becomes a case of necessity as the majority of the mortality cases associated with hypertension come from the estimated 46% of adults that do not know they are living with the disease. More so, only 1 in 5 adults (21%) with hypertension have it under control.
THE DISEASE
Hypertension otherwise known as High Blood Pressure (High BP) is the sustained increase in blood pressure. It manifests when the blood pressure of an adult is too high. Blood pressure is the force exerted against the walls of the arteries as blood is being circulated through the body and it is read in 2 numbers – the systolic pressure (1st number or numerator) and the diastolic pressure (2nd number or denominator). While the systolic pressure accounts for the pressure in the blood vessels as they contract i.e as they push out blood from the vessels, the diastolic pressure is the pressure in the vessels when they want are being filled with blood.
Hypertension also known by many as HTN or HBP can be primary (essential) if the cause of it is unknown or secondary if there’s an underlying cause to it. For the sake of this article, HTN will be used to represent Hypertension.
CLASSIFICATION AND DIAGNOSIS OF HYPERTENSION
The Joint National Committee (JNC-8) classified hypertension (HTN) as follows:
Normal BP: 120/80mmHg
Prehypertension BP: 120-139mmHg OR 80-89mmHg
Stage 1 HTN BP: 140-159mmHg OR 90-99mmHg
Stage 2 HTN BP: ≥160mmHg OR ≥100mmHg
Hypertension is diagnosed if measured on 2 different days, the systolic pressure reading is ≥140mmHg AND/OR the diastolic pressure reading is ≥90mmHg.
RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HYPERTENSION
Risk factors constitute the various conditions that can expose one to hypertension. In HTN, there are modifiable and non-modifiable factors.
Modifiable factors include those factors which can easily be improved on and in doing so can eliminate the incidence of HTN for up to a lifetime.
Unhealthy diets in the form of excessive salt/sodium consumption, a diet high in saturated fat and Trans fat, a low intake of fruits and vegetables, lack of potassium in a diet
Not being physically active
High consumption of alcohol and to***co
Obesity or overweight
Stress
Non-modifiable factors include those factors that cannot be avoided and can be a result of an underlying disease.
Age: Onset mostly in adults older than 60 years of age.
Race: Black Africans are more likely to have HTN in their lifetime than Americans. Africa has the highest prevalence of HTN – about 27%.
Family history
Chronic disease conditions such as diabetes, kidney diseases, etc.
SYMPTOMS OF HTN
HTN is widely known as a “silent killer”. This is because people living with HTN (46%) are not aware of it. In addition, these symptoms are not specific and often times they do not manifest until it has reached a severe stage.
Early morning headache
Shortness of breath
Nosebleeds
Irregular heart rhythms
Buzzing in the ears
Blurry/double vision
Fatigue
Others include Chest pain, anxiety, confusion, nausea, vomiting, and muscle tremors.
PREVENTION, MANAGEMENT, AND TREATMENT OF HTN
1. Prevention/Non-pharmacological approach to treatment
Reducing salt intake (not more than 1 teaspoon per day)
Eating more fruits and vegetables
Avoiding the use of to***co
Reducing alcohol consumption
Being physically active regularly
Limiting the intake of foods in saturated fats and trans fats in the diet
2. Management
Reducing and managing stress
Treating high blood pressure
Regular blood pressure checking
Managing underlying disease conditions.
3. Treatment: Consult your Physician/Doctor. WHO recommends the following antihypertensive agents for use as FIRST-LINE AGENTS:
Thiazide and thiazide-like agents
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEis)/angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs)
Long-acting dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (CCBs).
CONCLUSION: Regular and Accurate BP measurement remains the best way to prevent the incidence of HTN. Therefore, CHANET in association with WHO enjoins everyone to adopt a routine practice of BP measurement, and by doing this, the global target of reducing the prevalence of HTN by 33% can be achieved by 2030.
