Cebu City – The National Nutrition Council Region VII commemorates Hypertension Awareness Month through its e-HISGOT or Educational Health and Nutrition Information-Sharing Geared Towards Development held on 19 May 2022 over its official Facebook page at NNCRVII. e-HISGOT is part of NNC 7’s Social and Behavior Change Communication plan meant to influence the Central Visayas community to adopt healthier food choices and practice healthy lifestyles to help prevent the onset of malnutrition and diet-related diseases.
The month of May was declared as Hypertension Awareness Month by virtue of Proclamation No. 1761 signed on 1 May 2009 to educate the public and increase awareness of hypertension, which is also commonly known as high blood pressure.
This year’s theme “Mission Critical: Defuse the Hypertension Threat” highlights the importance of disseminating the correct information and reducing the threat brought about by hypertension. To further highlight and inform the public about the threat of hypertension, World Hypertension Day is also celebrated annually every 17 May to promote blood pressure awareness. Hypertension has no symptoms and could go unnoticed for years. To combat this, people should check their blood pressure regularly and accurately for a longer lifespan.
Hypertension continues to be an increasing health problem in the Philippines. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in 2021 hypertensive disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the country. Hypertension is also a major trigger of a range of health problems such as strokes, heart attacks, and kidney disease, and can also contribute to dementia. Many people who suffer from hypertension are not aware that they have it as there can be no symptoms, often people only find out after suffering a heart attack or stroke.
An unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and harmful use of alcohol are risk factors for developing hypertension. The American Heart Association came up with its newest guidelines for managing hypertension that centered on lifestyle modification including dietary intervention, and pharmacologic therapy.
So how does nutrition come into play in addressing hypertension? Keep in mind that the DASH diet or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension may be the solution to solving your unhealthy diet. As this diet is very simple all you must do is:
- Eat more colorful fruits and vegetables,
- Limit/restrict foods that are high in saturated fat, cholesterol, and trans fats (processed food),
- Eat more whole-grain foods, as well as lean meats such as fish, and poultry, and
- Limit sodium, sweets & sugary drinks, and red meats.
Another effective way to manage hypertension is to follow the Ten Kumainments, particularly Kumainment Numbers 3, 8, 9, ug 10. Kumainment Number 3: Kaon ug prutas matag adlaw as these foods contain important minerals and fiber that will help lower blood pressure. Kumainment Number 8 on the other hand: Likayi ang sobrang parat, tambok, ug tam-is nga pagkaon as high salt and fatty foods triggers an increase of blood pressure. Kumainment Number 9: Pagbaton sa tukmang timbang. An increase in weight is associated with an increase in blood pressure and Kumainment Number 10: Batoni and lagsik nga lawas. Likayan ang alcohol ug ayaw panigarilyo. Smoking is one of the risk factors of cardiovascular disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control, hypertension secondary to smoking is the leading cause of disability and death in the world.
Hypertension is the most common modifiable risk factor for heart disease and death and reducing blood pressure through antihypertensive drugs and a healthy lifestyle including healthy eating, weight management, no smoking, and reduction of alcohol consumption will prevent you from possible heart attacks and strokes. // PNFP Siquijor Gab Flores, RND
