The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Public Health on Tuesday opened a two-day free High Blood Pressure check to reduce cases of hypertension.
The Director, FCT Public Health Department, Dr Doris John, said that the exercise was to create awareness that ”hypertension is a killer disease”.
John said that the blood pressure check was also to commemorate the 2024 World Hypertension Day, an event annually observed on May 17.
The director added that “this event also affords us an opportunity to educate people about hypertension, what to look out for; what to do; which is what we are doing right now.“Hypertension is a lifestyle disease, we are here to tell people what they need to know about hypertension, we are here to tell people the need to regulate their nutrition, this is part of the things that also affect the blood pressure.
“This exercise is not a day thing, we just started today, we will continue tomorrow, Wednesday, May 22, we are going to continue in different places, different offices and complexes.
“This is an opportunity for people who have not even checked their BP before, to do so, it is an opportunity for them to start it now, if we check BP and we found out issues, we will tell you the need to check again.”She decried the poor habit of some Nigerians, who do not imbibe the idea of regular checkup, urging them to begin.
She called on those who already have high BP to always take their medications and regulate their diet.
Dr Adeyemi Olubumi, the Coordinator, Non-Communicable Disease Unit, pointed out that there are risk factors that predispose people to hypertension, saying that people must avoid such.
Olubumi said that “in this age where technology has dominated everywhere, fast foods and stress must be avoided, so that one does not have hypertension.”
Prof. Dike Orjji, a Consultant Cardiologist, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, said high BP can cause stroke, heart and kidney failure.
Orjji, a Principal Investigator, Cardiovascular Unit, Gwagwalada Teaching Hospital, Abuja, said that the cause of high BP is unknown
He explained that “in more than 80 to 90 per cent cases of high BP, the cause is not known, some may be genetic, stress can bring it faster for those who have the tendency, so, people must know the level of their blood pressure to avoid hypertension.
“You must exercise, take natural foods; more of vegetables; eat healthy; take more fruits; eat more boiled food than fried; take more natural foods than the junk food.
“We must also watch the amount of salt we take, excess salt leads to accumulation of water, if the pipe that carries water goes high, the blood pressure also goes high.
“Taking anti hypertensive medications can, however, regulate blood pressure,” he said. (NAN)
Tags: Hypertension
