Many individuals in Anguilla are hypertensive and are managed appropriately by a combination of various treatment options. Unfortunately, many others are not diagnosed as they fail to have their blood pressure checked at regular intervals by trained healthcare professionals. Several studies have demonstrated that certain dietary patterns, and individuals diets, play a role in the development and management of hypertension.
What is hypertension?
Hypertension, also known as high or raised blood pressure, is a condition in which the blood vessels have persistently raised pressure.
Blood pressure is measured with an instrument called a sphygmomanometer through which the user listens for the sound of the force of blood in the patient’s arteries when the heart beats (systolic pressure). Measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), systolic pressure is the top number in your blood pressure reading. The second, or bottom number, is the pressure in the arteries of the heart at rest — the diastolic pressure. Generally, as an adult, you are considered to have high blood pressure if your systolic pressure reading is greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg – or if your diastolic pressure is greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg.
Hypertension is a serious medical condition and can increase the risk of heart, brain, kidney and other diseases. It is a major cause of premature death worldwide, with upwards of 1 in 4 men and 1 in 5 women – over a billion people ¬– having the condition.
What causes hypertension?
Elevated blood pressure arises from a combination of environmental and genetic factors and the interactions of these factors. A substantial body of evidence from clinical studies has demonstrated that certain dietary patterns, and individual dietary elements, play a prominent role in the development of hypertension.
Treatment of hypertension
Treatment for hypertension has been associated with reductions in stroke (reduced an average of 35%-40%), heart attack (20%-25%), and heart failure (more than 50%), according to research.
Treating high blood pressure involves lifestyle changes and possibly drug therapy. Lifestyle changes include the following:
• Losing weight if you are overweight or obese
• Quitting smoking
• Getting regular aerobic exercise (such as brisk walking at least 30 minutes a day, several days a week)
• Limiting alcohol to two drinks a day for men, one drink a day for women
• Dietary changes
Hypertension and diet
Changes in diet can lower blood pressure, prevent the development of hypertension, and reduce the risk of hypertension-related complications. Dietary strategies for the prevention of hypertension include reducing sodium intake, limiting alcohol consumption, increasing potassium intake, and adopting an overall dietary pattern such as the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet or a Mediterranean diet. In order to reduce the burden of blood pressure-related complications, efforts that focus on environmental and individual behavioural changes – that encourage and promote healthier food choices – are encouraged.
Eating a diet that is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products, and skimps on saturated fat and cholesterol, can lower your blood pressure by up to 11 mm Hg if you have high blood pressure.
Eating a healthy diet, including the DASH diet (eating more fruits, vegetables, and low fat dairy products, less saturated and total fat).
Individuals are encouraged to reduce the amount of sodium in their diet to less than 1,500 milligrams a day if they have high blood pressure. Healthy adults should try to limit their sodium intake to no more than 2,300 milligrams a day (about 1 teaspoon of salt).
Foods to eat less of if you are hypertensive
Many foods have been implicated making hypertension worse. You are encouraged to avoid excessive use of the following foods if you are hypertensive:
• Butter and margarine.
• Regular salad dressings.
• Fatty meats.
• Whole milk dairy products.
• Fried foods.
• Salted snacks.
• Canned soups.
• Fast foods.
• Processed foods such as lunch meats, sausage, bacon and ham.
Conclusion
Many individuals in Anguilla have hypertension. It is felt by many health professionals that many of these individuals do not have their blood pressure under control. Various lifestyle changes and medications can be used to successfully control hypertension. The fact that many individuals with hypertension are not adequately controlled is worrisome – given the insidious consequences of high blood pressure. Uncontrolled hypertension is a leading cause of stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure. It overworks the heart muscle, leading to heart failure. It erodes sight, interferes with memory, puts a damper on sexual activity, and steals years of life. All adults in Anguilla should know their blood pressure and should have it checked by a trained healthcare provider at regular intervals. Various factors play a vital role in hypertension especially lifestyles such as eating a healthy diet.
Ask Your Dr is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. The reader should consult his or her physician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field are ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.
Dr Brett Hodge MB BS DGO MRCOG is an obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Family Doctor with over thirty-eight years in clinical practice. Dr Brett Hodge has a medical practice in The Johnson Building in The Valley (Tel: 264 497 5828).
