THE SILENT KILLER
Mama
Emeka, my childhood neighbour collapsed while going to her store. We
all thought it’s a product of her many enemies, since she was a known
trouble maker earning her the alias ‘Trouble’. Emeka her son became an
orphan and a drop-out as there was nobody to support him. Mama Emeka was
said to be healthy that morning before her death which begs the
question, what could have gone wrong. The only plausible explanation was
that she must have died from complications of a chronic medical
condition with hypertension being the prime suspect. Complicated
hypertension kills silently and suddenly.
Hypertension simply
means abnormal elevated blood pressure. Blood pressure readings are
comprised of two values: one for systolic blood pressure and the other
one for diastolic blood pressure; anything equal to or above 140 over 90
is considered high. It affects approximately 1 billion people worldwide
and it is commoner among blacks. Studies shows that about 30 million
Nigerians are hypertensive, affecting 1 in 3 men and 1 in 4 women.
Unfortunately over 30% of hypertensives are unaware. These sets of
people are time bomb waiting to explode just like Mama Emeka. Kaboom!
And they are gone 6 feet under the ground.
Over 90% of
hypertension is idiopathic, the causes are unknown. However, there are
some things that increase one’s chance of having hypertension which
include advance age, black race, stress, sedentary lifestyles, alcohol
consumption, smoking, consumption of fatty food and extra large people
with BMI greater than 30.
High blood pressure is usually
asymptomatic, but when it presents with symptoms, the symptoms are
usually vague. Vague symptoms of hypertension include headache,
insomnia, blurry vision and palpitations. Untreated or poorly treated
hypertension leads to heart failure, heart attack, stroke, blindness,
renal failure and many more.
Routine blood pressure check is
important(especially for individuals with increased chances) and this
can be done in the hospital. One must know his number and it is easier
these days that even mushroom ‘chemists’ now render blood pressure
checking service at a cheap price. A way of showing love to your old
ones is to make sure they get their blood pressure checked. You might be
saving a life. To those who have been diagnosed of hypertension, yet
you are not on drug and not attending clinic, I feel sorry for the loved
ones you’ll be living behind. Stroke might just be knocking on the
door. Please retrace your steps.
Eat healthy, avoid excessive
salt intake and limit alcohol consumption. Extra large ones should
emulate the popular comedienne Lepacious Bose. Hit the gym with the aim
of maintaining a healthy weight. Who fatness don epp except for bullies?
We must all know our numbers, mine is 110/70mmHg. What is yours?
