Greetings to our amiable Rivers people, and welcome to another episode of RivEthics on Radio, our character-building weekend show. Please remember that your health is your responsibility. Take the right steps to stay healthy. Our topic today is in commemoration of the World Hypertension Day, coming up on 17th May.
The main aim of the World Hypertension Day is to educate the public and increase awareness of hypertension or high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a common condition in which the long-term force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, etc. Blood pressure is determined both by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure.
You can have high blood pressure (hypertension) for years without any symptoms. Even without symptoms, damage to blood vessels and heart continues and can be detected. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of serious health problems. High blood pressure generally develops over many years, and it affects nearly everyone eventually. Fortunately, high blood pressure can be easily detected. And once you know you have high blood pressure, you can work with your doctor to control it.
World Hypertension Day is organised by the World Hypertension League which is an umbrella organisation composed of 85 hypertension societies and leagues from all over the world. The theme for this year is “Know Your Numbers”, and the World Hypertension League would like to encourage as many people as possible to get involved and find out their blood pressure numbers. This can easily be done in pharmacy shops or clinics and even at home with the easy-to-use electronic blood pressure monitors.
There are very important messages imbedded in the themes of previous years’ World Hypertension Days. In 2007, the theme was ‘Healthy diet, healthy blood pressure’. Also in 2008, the theme was “Measure your blood pressure…at home”. The use of such specific themes, including this year’s “Know your numbers” is to raise awareness not only of hypertension, but also of factors contributing to an increase in the incidence of hypertension and on ways to prevent it.
Eating a healthy diet always and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are both key to preventing and managing hypertension and its complications, as the expert in the house will explain while throwing more light on the subject. He is Dr. Barile Ikpae, Chairman Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria, River State Branch. Please enjoy the episode.
Our wonderful Rivers people, please remember to always let your manners speak for you.
God bless and keep you and your families and God bless Rivers State
Her Excellency,
Hon. Justice Mrs. Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike,
The Wife of His Excellency,
Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON. GSSRS. POS (Africa),
The Governor of Rivers State
You can also listen to and download the Pidgin English version of this Episode below