The Nation Newspaper

Tag: high blood pressure

  • Remedies for high blood pressure

    Lifestyle changes and natural remedies may help to control high blood pressure, but your doctor may also recommend medication to lower high blood pressure. It is important to work with your doctor, because untreated high blood pressure may damage organs in the body and increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, brain haemorrhage, kidney disease, and vision loss.

    • Garlic

    In a meta-analysis of seven randomized controlled trials of garlic supplements, three trials showed a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure and four in diastolic blood pressure. Researchers concluded that garlic powder supplement may be of clinical use in patients with mild high blood pressure.

    Garlic supplements should only be used under the supervision of a qualified health practitioner. Garlic can thin the blood (reduce the ability of blood to clot) similar to aspirin. Garlic may interact with many drugs and supplements such as the prescription drugs such as Coumadin (warfarin) or Trental (pentoxifylline), aspirin, vitamin E, gingko. It is usually recommended that people taking garlic stop in the weeks before and after any type of surgery.

    • Fish Oil

    Preliminary studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil may have a modest effect on high blood pressure. Although fish oil supplements often contain both DHA (docohexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), there is some evidence that DHA is the ingredient that lowers high blood pressure.

    • Folic Acid

    Folate is a B vitamin necessary for formation of red blood cells. It may help to lower high blood pressure in some people, possibly by reducing elevated homocysteine levels.

    One small study of 24 cigarette smokers found that four weeks of folic acid supplementation significantly lowered blood pressure.

  • Free high blood pressure screening

    Medplus, a pharmaceutical chain, has announced a one-week free blood pressure assessment to commemorate the World Health Day (WHD).

    The theme is High Blood Pressure (HBP).

    Its Managing Director, Mrs Joke Bakare, said the week-long initiative was coming on the heels of the 2013 edition of the WHD, which is focused on the control of blood pressure and cutting the risk of heart attack and stroke.

    This, she said, is the campaign platform for the theme declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO). “I am very pleased to announce that we would be offering free Blood Pressure Assessment Exercise to Nigerians at some of our health care stores in Lagos as a demonstration of our corporate social responsibility to the society. This initiative is closely planned in support of the World Health Organisation campaign goal for the World Health Day 2013 which is to reduce heart attack and stroke,” she said.

    Bakare said her health care company, in addition to the free blood pressure assessment, would embark on a one day radio enlightenment campaign tagged ‘Medplus Quarter Hour on blood pressure control’.

  • ‘Healthy lifestyle can prevent high blood pressure’

    FIDSON Healthcare Plc has joined the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the campaign against high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases.

    According to its General Manager, Marketing, Mr Ola Ijimakin, reports from WHO showed that one in three adults worldwide has high blood pressure.

    Ijimakin, who spoke during the High Blood Pressure (HBP) Day marked yearly on April 7 by the WHO, said: “The proportion increases with age from one in 10 people in their 20s and 30s to five in 10 people in their 50s. The prevalence of high blood pressure is highest amongst some low income countries in Africa; with over 40 per cent of adults in many African countries thought to be affected.”

    He said HBP, also known as hypertension, increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure. “It can also cause blindness, irregular heartbeats and heart failure if left uncontrolled. The WHO report also states that worldwide, more than 7.5million deaths are attributed to the condition; about 12.8 per cent of all deaths. This accounts for 57 million Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYS), which accounted for about 3.7 per cent of total DALYS,” he added.

    Ijimakin said the alarming rate of high blood pressure globally is a challenge that should not be handled with levity, especially as more people in Africa are exposed to unhealthy behaviours such as poor eating habits, very little physical activity, smoking, excessive alcohol intake and stressful lifestyles.

    Consequently, there is the need to create public awareness on the risks associated with high blood pressure and the importance of a healthy life style as a preventive measure.