Hypertension is when the pressure in your blood vessels is too high (140/90 mmHg or higher). It is common but can be serious if not treated.
A hypertensive crisis is a sudden, severe increase in blood pressure. The blood pressure reading is 180/120 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or greater. It can lead to a heart attack, stroke or other life-threatening health problems.
Severely high blood pressure can damage blood vessels and body organs, including the heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes. During a hypertensive crisis, the heart may not be able to pump blood effectively.
According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30–79 years worldwide have hypertension, and an estimated 46% of adults with hypertension are unaware that they have the condition. Less than half of adults (42%) with hypertension are diagnosed and treated.
Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Health is leading local awareness campaigns against The Silent Killer. The message the Ministry sends to the populace is simple: Get Checked.
The island’s Health Minister, Hon. Moses Jn Baptiste, disclosed that fewer patients have their hypertension under control.
“In Saint Lucia, about 40% of people with hypertension have their condition under control. Now this is concerning since uncontrolled hypertension is the most common preventable cause of strokes and heart attacks which are the second and third leading causes of death respectively here,” he said.
Lifestyle changes can help lower high blood pressure. These include:
- eating a healthy, low-salt diet
- losing weight
- being physically active
- quitting tobacco.
If you have high blood pressure, your doctor may recommend one or more medicines. Your recommended blood pressure goal may depend on what other health conditions you have.
Cancer, Diabetes and Hypertension are three of the country’s biggest killers as the rates of these noncommunicable diseases increase yearly.
Get checked regularly, the Minister emphasized as the world commemorated Hypertension Day on May 17th 2024.
“Since high blood pressure does not usually cause symptoms, let us all measure our blood pressure regularly at home or at our healthcare providers, including at healthcare facilities where accurate or validated blood pressure monitors are available. Controlled hypertension results in significantly fewer strokes, heart attacks, disabilities and deaths from these health conditions.”
Get checked today.