This time,we are not discussing any clinical case in particular. We are just talking about the World Health Day as it were.
To start with, I know most of us are used to celebrations and parties and so on, but I find it rather a misfit to bid me Happy World Health Day! To me, such days are set aside for us to reflect on certain aspects of our lives, in this case Health. The World Health Organisation has chosen a beautiful theme for this year- High Blood Pressure.
In the past, high blood pressure (and by extension) Hypertension used to be seen as a disease of the rich, of affluence, of the elderly, in fact of the ‘whites’.
However, recent studies and clinical experiences have shown clearly that there is now a change in the trend of events with young people of ages as low as 22 and 28 years reported to have died of Stroke- a complication of high blood pressure here in Nigeria.
According to the WHO, 46 per cent of Africans above age 25 are said to have high blood pressure while 7.3 million people are reported to die of high blood pressure-related diseases annually.
The issue of high blood pressure is best tackled with the maxim “Prevention is better than cure”. The reason is very simple,once it happens its a life long ailment; at best, you manage it.
Preventing high blood pressure is quite simple,starting from the food we eat-a balanced diet is healthier and costs less than junk-feeding; lifestyle modification- stress-free life and regular exercise; regular medical check up, and so on.
All the above are with the background understanding that there is a high genetic relationship with high blood pressure but then, it can be better managed.
My concern with health management especially in Nigeria is that most of us fail to realise that the poor health index in our country is multifactorial with each individual contributing greatly.
How does this happen? Each person knows where the shoes pinch the most. Government will not tell you that you have headche, they won’t tell you when to seek for medical attention or where, in fact, they won’t tell you to live healthy. Its you, your life, your health.
Granted we need the government to provide a formidable, accessible and affordable health care service plan but you must realise that living healthy begins with YOU.
Hamid Adediran is a Medical Doctor+Broadcaster=Medicaster. He tweets from @hamid_doctalk
