The National Nutrition Council – MIMAROPA joins the Department of Health and the Philippine Society of Hypertension in celebrating the national hypertension awareness month this May to raise consciousness and encourage Filipinos to prevent and control this disease. This awareness month is observed by the virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 1761 of 2009.

Hypertension or elevated blood pressure is a serious medical condition considered as the number one contributing risk factor for global deaths, causing strokes, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular complications.

According to World Health Organization, an estimated of 1.13 billion people worldwide have hypertension. While in the Philippines, based on the 2019 results of the Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) of the Department of Science and Technology – Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), 17.5% of Filipino adults (20 years and above) have an elevated blood pressure. 

Aside from family history, age, and co-existing diseases such as diabetes or kidney disease, the risk for hypertension also increases because of unhealthy diets like excessive salt intake, diet high in saturated fat and trans fats and low consumption of fruits and vegetables. Sedentary lifestyle, consumption of tobacco and alcohol, and being overweight or obese also influences the elevated blood pressure.

As the saying goes by, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” NNC MIMAROPA encourages everyone for a healthy diet and lifestyle habit to prevent hypertension and its health consequences. Reduce the risk for hypertension by cutting salt intake to less than 5 g daily, limiting consumption of foods high in saturated fats, eliminating trans-fat in the diet, eating more fruits and vegetables, being physically active and avoiding tobacco use and alcohol consumption.  Take these tips to achieve healthy body and avoid the burdens of hypertension.

(BLVMEstrella)

Sources:

2019 ENNS Results Dissemination Adults and Elderly. (2020). DOST-FNRI. Retrieved from: http://enutrition.fnri.dost.gov.ph/site/uploads/2019%20ENNS%20Results%20Dissemination_ADULTS%20and%20ELDERLY.pdf

Proclamation No. 1761. (2009). Official Gazette of the Philippines. Retrieved from: https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2009/05/01/proclamation-no-1761-s-2009/

Hypertension. (2019). World Health Organization. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension

Celebrate hypertension awareness month this May. (n.d.). Philippine Council for Health Research and Development. Retrieved from: https://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/events/6360-celebrate-hypertension-awareness-month-this-may