One in every 3 Nigerians hypertensive — Society

Prof. Ayodele Omotoso, President of the Nigeria Hypertension Society (NHS) says one in every three Nigerians was hypertensive.

Omotoso, who made the claim in a press statement issued to mark the World Hypertension Day (WHD), explained that studies conducted by the Society in 2018 indicated that hypertension was present in one-third of the population.

Omotoso added that the research also showed that only half of the population was aware of being hypertensive, while only 18 percent of all hypertensives had their blood pressure controlled.

According to him, hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, was the number one cause of preventable death worldwide.

Omotoso, who is also a Cardiologist at the Department of Medicine, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, described hypertension as a condition in which there was sustained elevation of blood pressure.

He said that the blood pressure was usually above a threshold of 140 mmHg systolic and 90 mmHg diastolic in an adult.

“Unfortunately, hypertension only announces its presence in most people after the development of complications like stroke, heart failure, heart attack or kidney failure.

“The social and economic toll of these complications on immediate families and the nation at large are enormous,” he said.

The NHS president lamented that the proportion of Nigerians with hypertension was high, while awareness, treatment, and control rates were low despite the availability of potent drugs.

He advised Nigerians to endeavour to check their blood pressure regularly, adding that those with hypertension should consult their medical practitioners for proper advice.

“If you are hypertensive, please take your medications regularly to achieve a good blood pressure control and thus prevent complications like stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure which can shorten one’s lifespan.

“Avoid excessive salt consumption as this is strongly linked to the development of hypertension and/or poor control of same,” he said.

Omotoso also advised people to maintain healthy diets with daily consumption of fruits and vegetables, in addition to engaging in physical exercises for a minimum duration of 30 minutes daily or on at least three non-consecutive days every week.

The NHS president urged obese people to reduce their weight and avoid unhealthy lifestyles like smoking and alcohol consumption.

He disclosed that the 17th of May had been set aside as the WHD globally, by the World Hypertension League.

“The purpose of the day is to increase the awareness about hypertension around the world and the need to encourage citizens of all countries to prevent and control this silent killer,” he said.

Omotoso said the theme of the 2021 WHD is: “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer”.

“This theme is a call on the need to increase hypertension awareness, accurately measure blood pressure, detect and control hypertension in order to prevent premature death,” he said.