High blood pressure is a serious
condition that can lead to coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, kidney
failure, and other health problems. Blood
pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as
the heart pumps blood. If this pressure rises and stays high over time, it can
damage the body in many ways.
It is known that 25% of Filipino
adults, or about 14 million of current adult population, have high blood
pressure. A large majority of them are unaware of their high blood pressure and
associated health risks.
Heart disease and stroke remains
the leading causes of mortality, comprising 35% of total deaths, among
Filipinos. Philippine Health Statistics data show that in 2009, about 167,000
Filipinos died from heart disease and stroke. Half of these tragic deaths are
likely related to high blood pressure.
Featured Video
An analysis done by the
Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) further reveals that 34% of
all cardiovascular deaths are happening prematurely or at age below 60 years,
ending the life of many Filipinos during their supposedly most productive
years. This has implications to labor, productivity, and economic development.
The health consequences of
high blood pressure can be compounded by tobacco use, unhealthy diet, harmful
use of alcohol, lack of physical activity, as well as obesity, high cholesterol
and diabetes. High blood pressure is preventable and treatable;
controlling it, is the main way to
prevent heart attack and stroke.
Team HealthyYOU
http://healthyyoucmd.blogspot.com
healthyyoucmd@gmail.com