A Microbiologist of the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital and the Central Region Chairman of Ghana Association Of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS), Dr. Ekow Kuma Nelson has described high blood pressure as a silent killer.
According to him it’s a silent killer because it is asymptomatic. Meaning it doesn’t come with symptoms and it only becomes serious with affected people normally when they least expect it and the consequences can be very dire.
Speaking on Central Morning Show on GBC Radio Central Wednesday, 17th May, 2023 as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of GAMLS which coincides with World Hypertension Day Celebration, he revealed that statistically 1.28 billion adults worldwide between the ages of 30-79 have high blood pressure. Out of this number, 46% are unaware of their condition while 42% are diagnosed and treated.
Dr.Kumah further noted that about 600,000 cases of hypertension are recorded annually with fewer of these people in their older ages and more of these patients being younger persons, sometimes in their 20s.
With reference to Ghana, “5.27 million are hypertensive. Out of this 34% are males whiles 30% are females”, he revealed.
In explaining why more men are hypertensive than women, Dr. Nelson Ekow Kumah mentioned that can be associated with the Akan socio-cultural value system. A value system where men are not allowed to show weak emotions can be a contributing factor to high stress build up which culminates into hypertension in more men than women.
The Microbiologist averred that in our system men are not encouraged to cry even though situations can demand for same. In a situation where a woman would cry to get respite, men would rather not cry and all such bottle up emotions builds stress which can lead to pressure.
Another problem according to Dr. Nelson is the lack of rest for most men. Our penchant to make a lot more money to cater for our insatiable needs causes most men to leave home very early and return late. This lack of sleep for a very long time piles up stress which could lead to high blood pressure.
Current risk factors which makes an individual predisposed to have blood pressure issues are family history, obesity thus a situation where an individual has more weight than necessary, alcoholism is another risk factor, smoking, aging, lack of exercises and excessive intake of sodium.
However, he advised that when one begins to experience chest pains, dizziness, nausea, blared vision, anxiety, confusion and abnormal heart rhythm then the person should seek medical attention at the nearest health facility.
He underscored the fact that, it is imperative for everyone to regularly check his or her pressure to know their status in order to remedy it before it becomes too late.
BY DC KWAME KWAKYE
Content created and supplied by: DCKWAMEKWAKYE (via Opera
News )
