Over 60 Million Nigerians Suffer From Hypertension, Plus Ways Get Rid Of It

Highly rated Lagos State University College of Medicine Public Health Physician, Professor Olumuyiwa Odusanya, has revealed that millions of Nigerians are hypertensive and need urgent care.

He was talking at the General Meeting and Scientific Conference brought together by his university’s branch of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD).

The conference discussed the term: "Double Tragedy: Increasing Incidence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the Presence of Infectious Diseases".

He said the nation is in danger, because many of us don’t know we are hypertensive, and we need to take urgent measures against NCDs.

He said: “If you gather 100 Nigerians, about 30 may be hypertensive, even those we know are not on treatment. It is a big issue for the country, particularly, adults and so we need to be aware and continue to be on treatment and do things to prevent such diseases."

He urged more people to take on Exercise as a daily routine and regulate their intake of fatty meals.

He also urged the Government to also try and regulate its citizens: "Government should do a lot in terms of looking at how people should limit the amount of salt they put in their food. We have got to reduce the amount of sugar in carbonated drinks, and we also need to see how we can make more available cholesterol free oils for people. These are the policies we need to take."

Now we take a look at ways to get rid of hypertension.

1. Stop Smoking: People who smoke are more likely to get not only hypertension but heart disease.

2. Don’t stress: Ignoring stress and striding on with life can lead to emotional, psychological, and even physical problems, including coronary artery disease and high blood pressure.

3. High Blood Pressure Drugs: Go to your Doctor for a checkup and if you are hypertensive, they might prescribe you pills to calm you down, drugs like Calcium Channel Blockers will reduce the your blood pressure by slowing the distribution of calcium into the cells of the heart and blood vessel walls and will allow the heart easily pump blood by widening your blood vessels.

Drugs also include ACE Inhibitors Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) and the popular Diuretics (Water Pills) which helps get rid of excess salt and fluid and help make it easier for the heart to pump blood.

Before Taken Any of these drugs consult with your Doctor!