Minister Advises Nigerians to Avoid Risk Factors That Can Cause Hypertension

[FMHNigeria]

Minister of State for Health, Dr. Mohammad Ali Pate has implored Nigerians on the need to stay healthy by avoiding all the risk factors that can cause hypertension.

 

The Minister gave this advice in Abuja today at a press briefing to commemorate 2013 World heart Day with the theme "High Blood Pressure".

He explained that Blood Pressure is a measurement of the force against the blood vessels(arteries)as blood is pumped from the heart adding that normal blood pressure is less than 140/90mmhg while a consistent blood pressure of 140/90mmhg and above is considered high blood pressure or hypertension.

He stressed that high blood pressure usually does not have any obvious symptoms adding that many people with hypertension do not know they have it hence hypertension is commonly diagnosed on routine blood pressure check, usually in a health facility by a health professional.

He said that high blood pressure could be prevented through losing weight as well as avoiding excessive weight gain, stopping smoking or avoiding exposure to second hand smoke. He added that other preventive measures include regulating amount of salt intake and limiting alcohol consumption.

Dr. Pate said that the Federal Government has taken some concrete steps to prevent hypertension and other non-communicable diseases which share similar risk factors. The interventions among others include an on-going integration of WHO package of essential diseases including hypertension into primary healthcare services since 2009.

Also as part of government efforts to prevent hypertension, Nigeria signed in 2004 and ratified in 2005 the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco control. Also with line Ministries and stakeholders, developed a national tobacco control bill. The Bill was passed to law by the National Assembly in 2011 which Mr. President asked for a review by the Federal Ministry of health and stakeholders.

He however called on Nigerians to adopt healthy lifestyle by avoiding all the risk factors that can cause hypertension because if one develops hypertension, it cannot be cured. It can only be managed with drugs. He added.

In his goodwill message, the WHO Regional Director, Dr. Luis Gomes Sambo said that hypertension has already affected one billion people worldwide stressing that it is a major concern in the African Region where, in the year 2000, an estimated  80 million people adults were affected adding that an estimated 150 million will suffer from hypertension in the Region by 2025.

He pointed out that hypertension is a silent killer that can affect anyone stressing that most of the people affected by hypertension are often not even aware of the disease and its complications. He added that the effect of hypertension overtime may include heart attack, kidney failure, stroke, premature death and disability.

While calling on all and sundry to eat healthy foods; reduce salt intake, avoid tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol, control their body weight; and regularly check their blood pressure, he urged ministries of health as well as health professionals to give utmost importance to early detection and treatment of hypertension and the prevention of its complications, and to implement standardized guidelines for hypertension management in primary healthcare settings.

 

 

Via: Federal Ministry of Health (FMH) Nigeria