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Every woman and man above 18 years needs to have his/her blood pressure checked regularly
Every woman and man above 18 years needs to have his/her blood pressure checked regularly

Sudden death from cardiac arrest;heart disease is a number one threat to adults

Heart diseases, including stroke, kill 17 million people worldwide each year – a figure expected to reach over 23 million per year by 2030.

We are talking about the death of people close to the entire population of Ghana.

I believe everyone should live a longer, healthier life.

With the support of more than 150,000 passionate supporters, health workers and volunteers, media houses, churches and mosques, I am sure we can deliver life-saving information and programmes to clinical facilities, business centres, schools and homes.

We must take bold steps to move our country towards a healthier future. When we are healthy, we can have strength in our bones to work extremely well to acquire more wealth, as well as enjoy our wealth as a nation.

As the proverb goes—a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. We need to work relentlessly to fight against heart diseases and stroke that are bringing a lot of grief to the people within the community.

We need to battle hard to prevent many deaths from heart diseases.

Cardiac arrest, or sudden cardiac death, accounts for 60 per cent of deaths from heart disease.

Most cases are the result of potentially correctible arrhythmias.

The ability to recognise those at risk of sudden death has increased appreciably, such that prophylactic measures can be implemented in a number of cardiac conditions to minimise risk.

Definition

Sudden cardiac death is defined as abrupt, unexpected natural death occurring within a short time period (generally < 1 hour) after onset of acute symptoms.

Majority of the patients who die suddenly have atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD).

It is now recognised that chronic left ventricular dysfunction is the most important predictor of sudden death in ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.

There are several causes of death that are heart-related – pulmonary hypertension, hypertensive heart disease, sarcoidosis, congenital heart diseases, coronary artery disease and cancer of the heart are all examples.

Now more than ever, the private medical practitioners, Ghana Health Service and many organisations are a powerful force for health and well-being.

The American Heart Association has changed definition of hypertension to 130/80mmHg.

As a country, we need to take a big step towards realising our bold vision of a place where no one dies from preventable cardiac arrest.

Every woman and man above 18 years needs to have his/her blood pressure checked regularly.

The disease is a silent killer in the sense that it can be damaging organs internally without warning until it strikes you down or until you screen for high blood pressure.

I have always said malaria is better than hypertension because malaria can give warning signs that will let you rush to hospital, unlike hypertension which can strike you when you least expect it.

During the last African Cup of Nations, a man died soon after Ghana scored a goal.

During the excitement and thrill of the game, his heartbeat changed and contributed to sudden cardiac arrest and stroke.

Sadly enough, many have also died in hotel rooms in the heat of sex.

Some aphrodisiacs that are mixed with alcohol can lead to sudden change in pressure and changes in heart function, leading to death.

Let’s fear blood pressure because it has ended many lives abruptly and brought much pain and grief to those who have lost loved ones to high blood pressure.

Headaches, dizziness, chest pain, difficulty in breathing, blurry vision and tiredness can all be symptoms of hypertension and need to be checked.

Every adult who feels unwell should ensure that his/her blood pressure is checked prior to taking pain relief.

We should all make an attempt to check our blood pressure each month so as to have 12 checks per year.

I think this is achievable regardless of your tight schedule. Doctors, artisans, priests, imams, traditionalists, drivers, fishermen, lawyers and market women all have to check their blood pressure whenever they can.

The government can grant research awards for medicine that tailors cardiovascular care based on a person’s genetics, environment and lifestyle.

Our health directorates in the county should be committed to working on heart disease and stroke.

We need to sharpen our focus to meet the health needs of the Ghanaian people everywhere.

Role of pharmacists

A humble plea to every chemist shop, drug store or even pharmacy - we can achieve our goal to fight heart disease and stroke if they insist on checking the blood pressure of adults who patronise their shops.

Heart disease is the number one killer worldwide and stroke ranks second.

Even when the condition does not result in death, it causes disability and diminishes quality of life.

We all have to work relentlessly, get our friends and families to check their blood pressure.

Once we get people to think carefully about their heart and hypertension, we can reduce the sudden deaths in the nation.

The use of non-pharmacologic therapy along with medical therapy, sodium and fluid restriction, smoking and alcohol cessation, stress reduction and treatment of depression, and exercise and weight loss, all improve symptoms and reduce hospitalisation.

I must say that in Ghana, there are myths about hypertension and people who have been emboldened by wrong perception and knowledge about hypertension.

Most people on their sick beds say: “I wasn’t paying attention or taking it seriously, I was busy with life,” and that’s the big mistake people make.

Occasional burning feeling in the chest which may feel like indigestion could be due to a heart attack.

Avoid fatty foods and watch portion size as you eat.

We recommend 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week.

Every woman and man above 18 years needs to have his/her blood pressure checked regularly

Writer’s E-mail: [email protected].

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