Chief medical director warns of dangers of not checking blood pressure
The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Ogun State Hospital, Ota, Dr Somade Taofeek, has advised Nigerians, especially those above 40 years to regularly check their blood pressure and take appropriate measures to avoid cardiovascular diseases.
Taofeek gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, in Ota, Ogun, to mark 2021 World Hypertension Day.
NAN reports that World Hypertension Day is celebrated annually on May 17.
The CMD said that the advice had become necessary because high blood pressure remained a silent killer which, if not properly managed, could lead to many diseases.
He said its complications could come in various forms including heart diseases/attack, stroke and chronic kidney disease which could lead to sudden death.
Taofeek said that recent investigations revealed that those between 30 years and 40 years could experience hypertension.
“The disease is a killer that does not tell us that it is in the body system unless we pay attention.
“It is when people check their blood pressure that they would know whether they have it or not,” he said.
Taofeek said that hypertension was generally called a silent killer due to the number of people it killed.
The CMD said that hypertension had various ways of manifesting in human body.
According to him, some people would be treating malaria without getting better but will not know that it is hypertension, while some will have headaches and find it difficult to sleep without knowing that it is the disease.
Taofeek added that some would have weak erection without knowing that it was caused by hypertension.
“Many Nigerians do not bother to treat the hypertension, until it degenerates to stroke.
“Once it causes stroke, the damages will be difficult to reverse.
“It is better to prevent it because having it is not a death sentence,” he said.
Taofeek urged Nigerians to check their blood pressure and sugar level regularly, noting: ‘diabetes is the twin brother of hypertension’.
The CMD said the disease could be well managed.
NAN reports that the 2021 World Hypertension Day had the theme: “Measure Your Blood Pressure, Control It, Live Longer”.
The aim is increased high blood pressure awareness in all populations around the world.
