23/05/2025
𝟭 𝗶𝗻 𝟭𝟬 𝗣𝗶𝗻𝗼𝘆 𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲—𝗗𝗢𝗦𝗧-𝗙𝗡𝗥𝗜
One in 10 or 13 percent (%) of Filipino adults has elevated blood pressure (BP), the 2023 National Nutrition Survey of the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) revealed.
Elevated BP refers to a reading slightly above the ideal range. Blood pressure helps move blood through the circulatory system.
Having elevated BP causes the heart to work harder to pump blood which can strain the wall of the heart’s pumping chamber.
Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mmHg), while elevated blood pressure means that the systolic blood pressure is greater than or equal to 140 mmHg and the diastolic blood pressure is greater than or equal to 90 mmHg.
Several risk factors contribute to elevated blood pressure, including age, family history of hypertension, poor diet, obesity, and insufficient physical activity.
The same survey found that around 4 in 10 or 39.8% of Filipino adults are obese, using the Asia-Pacific body mass index (BMI) cut-off points (BMI: ≥25.0 kg/m²) while about 5 in 10 or 46.9% are insufficiently physically active.
The survey also revealed that elevated blood pressure is more common among men at 15.4% than women at 10.4%.
Elevated BP is also more prevalent in urban areas at 13.3% and among the wealthiest households at 29.1%, the survey results further revealed.
One of the dangers of elevated BP is that it often has no visible symptoms, earning it the title “silent killer”.
Left unmanaged, elevated BP can lead to serious health complications such as stroke, heart failure, and kidney damage.
Thus, the DOST-FNRI strongly advocates for nutrition education and awareness campaigns on awareness and prevention of hypertension and other related diseases.
The Institute also recommends expanding efforts to improve access to healthcare and the quality of health services especially in remote and disaster-prone areas.
Community-based support groups for individuals with hypertension facilitated by healthcare workers trained in dietary and physical activity counseling are important.
It is also important to increase intake of fiber-rich foods such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, reduce dietary fat, quit smoking, and limit alcohol consumption to prevent further complications.
Regular blood pressure monitoring is a must, especially for individuals who have been diagnosed with hypertension.
This allows timely intervention if hypertension or other forms of hypertension are detected.
Consulting with a healthcare provider is important in managing any concerns effectively.
For more information on hypertension and nutrition, contact us at dostfnri47@fnri.dost.gov.ph or visit our website https://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph/.
