Prioritise your health this World Hypertension Day

World Hypertension Day is observed on May 17 every year to help raise awareness about high blood pressure, and how it can be prevented and managed.

The inaugural World Hypertension Day (WHD) was in May 2005 and it has since become an annual event.

While the global population may be preoccupied managing a new disease, it is important not to ignore other health concerns.

When your blood pressure exceeds a certain threshold it is known as hypertension. Hypertension remains the major risk factor for heart disease, strokes, kidney disease and eye disease.

According to the World Hypertension League the only way to find out your blood pressure is to measure it using acceptable measuring devices.

“Over a period of time the science has advanced and today blood pressure can be measured at home through self-measurement using home blood-pressure monitors.”

Unlike many other diseases, hypertension has no symptoms and is therefore referred to as a “silent killer”.

An estimated four in 10 adults over the age of 25 suffer from hypertension worldwide, one in three adults in South Africa.

Unfortunately, 50 per cent of these people are not aware of their condition and do not take any action to control their blood pressure, either through lifestyle modification or medications.

“This means 75 per cent of the world’s hypertensive population are at risk and are potential candidates for heart disease, strokes, kidney disease or even sudden death.”

What can you do to prevent, manage and control hypertension?

• Eat a healthy diet with lots of fruit, vegetables, grains, water and little processed foods; and
• Choose low sodium options, limit salt when cooking foods and do not add sodium/salt to food at the table.
• Prefer water (including tap water when water is safe) to sugary drinks and commercial fruit juices.
• Be physically active.
• Maintain a healthy body weight.
• Avoid tobacco products and excess alcohol consumption.
• Get your blood pressure checked regularly, understand what it should be and take treatment regularly when advised to do so by a healthcare professional.
• Advocate for healthy public spaces.

While blood pressure can easily be measured at home it is important to understand what your blood pressure should be:

• If your blood pressure is below 120/80 (meaning less than 120 mmHg of systolic blood pressure and less than 80 mmHg of diastolic blood pressure) then you have normal, healthy blood pressure.
• If your blood pressure is less than 140/90 but above 120/80, you are at a risk of becoming hypertensive. You need to take immediate steps to improve your lifestyle, such as quitting smoking if you are a smoker; reducing your body weight to a healthy level; becoming more active; improving your dietary habits to include more vegetables and fruits; reducing salt intake; and cutting down on the amount of fat intake. Meet with a healthcare provider to reassess your blood pressure every year.
• If your blood pressure is above 140/90, you need to see a healthcare provider to asses if you have hypertension and need treatment to help avoid heart disease and stroke.