50 Percent Of Nigerians With Hypertension Are Unaware – Expert
A retired Reproductive Medicine consultant at the University College Hospital, (UCH) Ibadan, Prof. Modupe Onadeko, says 7 out of 10 Nigerians hypertension and that 50 per cent of this 7 are unaware that they are hypertensive.
She added that the remaining half are just not bothered to seek medical help to treat this condition.
Prof. Onadeko disclosed this on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan in commemoration of the World Hypertension Day 2017.
The commemoration is aimed at increasing public awareness about the condition and this year’s is “Know Your Blood Pressure”.
She said that hypertension was a risk factor for Cerebrovascular Accidents (CVA), also called Stroke or Heart Attack.
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The consultant said that hypertension as a condition in which the arterial blood pressure raises to high level from the normal level (120/80mmHg).
“Hypertension is medical condition called “silent killer”, as it does not show any clear symptoms.
“However, severe hypertension shows some symptoms of headaches, sleepiness, palpitation, blurred vision, fatigue, dizziness, confusion and ringing sensation in the ears.
“Other symptoms that may manifest are: breathing difficulty and irregular heartbeat which may lead to coma.
“Hypertension is divided into two types; primary or essential hypertension and secondary hypertension, on the basis of its causing factors.
“The primary hypertension is a more common type. However, it causes are unknown.
“The causes of secondary hypertension, includes kidney damage, adrenal gland over-activity, sleep apnea syndrome, tumours and recreational drugs.
“Other causes are pregnancy-related conditions, over or wrong medications, alcoholic drinks and bad food,” she said.
Onadeko advised that people should do regular blood pressure check and adhere to doctor’s instruction on healthy diets and physical exercise.
World Hypertension Day is a day set aside and initiated by The World Hypertension League (WHL), which is itself an umbrella to organizations of 85 national hypertension societies and leagues.
The day was initiated to increase the awareness about the condition. This was especially important because of the lack of appropriate knowledge among hypertensive patients.
The WHL launched its first WHD on May 14, 2005. Since 2006, the WHL has been dedicating May 17 of every year as WHD.
