HYPERTENSION

Hypertension

What is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is mainly produced from the heart pumping blood into the arteries to give blood to every cell in body. Adequate blood pressure sustains life, but too high or too low blood pressure will affect health and cause disease.  

Blood pressure readings are written as systolic pressure over diastolic pressure.  A blood pressure of 120 systolic and 80 diastolic would be written as 120/80.

Normal Blood Pressure Normal or healthy blood pressure readings range from 90 – 120 (systolic) and 60 – 80 (diastolic).

Elevated: over 120/80

Stage 1: 130/80-90

Stage 2: 140/80-90 or Higher

Hypertensive Crisis: 180/120

  What is the problem?

·         The Caribbean region has the highest prevalence of hypertension in the Americas, ranging from approximately 21% to 27%, in 2021.

·         High Blood Pressure is the most common non-communicable disease (NCD) in Jamaica and one of the five leading causes of death among the population.

·         One in 3 Jamaicans are hypertensive – 35.8% women and 31.7% men, according to the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey for 2016/17.

·         Four out of every 10 people with the disease are unaware of their status – 60% men and 26% women.

·         More and more Jamaicans aged 15 to 74 years old are developing hypertension. In 2017, 31.5% of persons in this age group had high blood pressure compared to 20.9% in 2001.

 Causes of Hypertension

·         High Sodium Diet/ “Salty Food”

·         Obesity

·         Sleep Apnea

  ·       Lack of Exercise

·         Smoking

·         Stress

Let us Consider Sodium as a main cause of Hypertension.

According to the Minister of Health & Wellness

“The majority of adult Jamaicans have diets high in sodium and low in potassium, requiring urgent public health interventions to reduce salt consumption and increase potassium intake to address the burden of hypertension and cardiovascular disease,”

·         Sixty-seven (67) per cent or two out of every three Jamaicans consume more than the recommended sodium intake, about 3.6 grams daily, more than the recommended 2 grams daily.

• 73% of males have higher than recommended levels of sodium intake, with prevalence highest among men aged 45-54 years.

• 60.7% of females have higher than recommended levels of sodium intake, with prevalence greatest among those 35-44 years.

Effects of High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure is called the “silent Killer” because it can cause sudden death without warning. But it can also cause other diseases with long-term issues as well. In fact, High blood pressure is the main risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack and stroke, which are the leading causes of death in the Caribbean. See how High blood pressure can affect your health:

Other Signs:

o   Blurry vision

o   Headaches

o   Excessive urination

o   Nosebleed and Confusion

Herbs and Special foods:

Beet root

Ginger

Garlic (Make some garlic tea)

Hibiscus (Sorrel, no alcohol)

Breadfruit leaves

Coconut water