Pharmacists sensitises residents on hypertension preventive measures

By Motolani AbdulGafar

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Ejigbo zone has urged residents to consistently check their blood pressure to know their hypertension status.

ACPN made the call in a sensitisation exercise organised in collaboration with Ejigbo LCDA to create awareness on World Hypertension Day celebration.

The association’s publicity secretary, Pharm Chioma Omattah, while educating residents, noted that various factors would have accumulated in a patient which later develop into high pressure in the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body.

“Scientifically, it has been observed that factors such as high salt intake, obesity, kidney deficiency, excessive smoking and drinking, stress and anxiety and many more can predispose one to having hypertension.

“It should be noted that being hypertensive is not age restricted as children with genetic predisposition can also be affected at any stage in life,” she said.

She cautioned residents to be extremely observant and visit doctors while experiencing cases such as headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, blurred vision and nausea rather than predicting that they are suffering from malaria or typhoid which makes them go for self prescription of drugs.

Also speaking, Pharm. Jaiyeoba Olushola advised that predisposed patients should ensure carrying out the test for about two to three readings or more and to be diagnosed if the average is consistently over 134/80.

He explained that a diagnosed patient just needs to go through a persistent lifestyle modification process in maintaining the disease rather than being in a state of anxiety that cause more harm to the health state.

He, therefore, appealed to diagnosed patients to regularly use their medications but be tired of being on drugs as the ailment at present cannot be cured but can only be managed.