According to some researchers, Hypertension is one of the common health problems among Filipinos. It refers to the condition of a person where his or her blood pressure remains at an elevated level at all times. It is also called HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.
There are two types of Hypertension, the Primary Hypertension and the Secondary Hypertension. The Primary Hypertension is where the patient’s blood pressure elevated without any medical cause. While Secondary Hypertension, is where the patient’s blood pressure becomes elevated because of underlying health problems like kidney disease and chronic renal failure.
High risk for having high blood pressure are those who are smoker, obese, have diabetes, have a history of high blood pressure, often anxious or stress, and those who eat too much sugar, fats and sodium (salt) in diet.
Occipital headache, blurring of vision and difficulty of breathing are the three most common signs and symptoms of patients having this kind of health problem.
There are medicines that can be used to treat high blood pressure like Diuretics, Vasodilators, Calcium channel blockers, Beta blockers, Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, Alpha blockers, and Angiotensin-receptor blockers
We often hear that “prevention is better than cure”. Now here are the some ways to prevent having hypertension.
1. Weight reduction and regular exercise like walking and jogging, really improves the blood flow in the body.
2. Reducing dietary sugar, fats and sodium (salt) in diet.
3. Avoid cigarette smoking and heavy drinking of alcohols.
4. Reducing stress by doing the relaxation therapy.
5. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
6. Having adequate sleep and rest.
If hypertension left untreated, it can leads to the long-term complications like stroke, heart attack, heart and kidney failure, blindness, atherosclerosis and peripheral vascular disease (PVD).
Lifestyle modifications and Medications like anti-hypertensive medication are the common treatments for patient having hypertension. However, it is also very important to keep the patient’s head elevated at all times and especially when lying down. Regular blood pressure check up is also important.
Let us always remember that “HEALTH IS WEALTH”.
