WHO Alerts On HBP

World Health Organization (WHO), has declared that one out of three adult worldwide has high blood pressure (HBP)

According to available information by WHO, the diseases increases with age with low-income countries in Africa having the highest prevalence of 40 percent of the adult population affected.

Every year, April 7, is celebrated as World Health Day, to mark the anniversary of the founding of WHO 1948, and a theme is selected for the year.

This year’s theme, High Blood Pressure, was selected due to the global concerns of the increased prevalence of the disease and it effects. The Rivers Sate Commissioner for Health, Tamunoyoriari Parker, in a broadcast to the people of the State, said though HBP otherwise known as Hypertension, affects more than one out of every three adults globally, it remains hidden, adding that it usually does not cause any symptoms.

Parker further said, if left uncontrolled can lead to blindness, irregular heartbeat, stroke, heart attack and even death. The commissioner further said the goal for this year’s campaign is to reduce heart attack and strokes through greater awareness and healthy behaviours as well as to improve detection and healthy environment.

The Director, Public Health, State Ministry of Health, Akuro Okwujagu, charged people on healthy living, saying that people should exercise, eat right and reduce alcohol intake and smoking to reduce the risk of developing HBP.