Negros Province - The Municipal Nutrition Committee of Vallehermoso spearheaded by the Rural Health Unit (RHU) celebrated the Hypertension Awareness Month thru a lecture on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment and sharing of hypertensive diet. The activity was held on 23 May 2022 at RHU conference room.

Hypertension also known as high blood pressure, is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease including stroke, heart attack, heart failure, aneurysm, and sometimes death. You'd never know you have it without having your blood pressure checked. The excessive pressure on your arterial wall caused by high blood pressure can damage your blood vessels as well as your organs. The higher your blood pressure and the longer it remains uncontrolled, the greater the damage. Keeping the blood pressure in a normal range is very important in reducing the risks.

The activity was attended by the Public Health Nurses, Rural Health Midwives, Human Resources for Health from the Department of Health VII, other staff from the Rural Health Unit and some members of the senior citizens association in the municipality.

Dr. Noelah Marie L. Akut, the OIC Municipal Health Officer and Doctors to the Barrio gave the introduction on hypertension, the signs and symptoms, and its risk factors. She also re-oriented the participants especially the health workers in the proper way of conducting the CVD Risk Assessment in their assigned barangays.

Nutritionist-Dietitian II Chutsvieka May Pacatang also shared the Hypertensive Diet also known as the DASH Diet (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension). ND Pacatang explained to the participants the difference of DASH from other diets and gave a sample meal plan under DASH.

The activity ended with an open forum where questions about hypertension were answered and ways to prevent hypertension this silent killer disease was reemphasized. // ND II Chutsvieka May Pacatang, RND