I wonder how many of the patients attending the National Referral Hospital recently during the reported crisis over bed shortages attended because they were suffering from hypertension or blood pressure.
I wouldn’t know but I do know that hypertension does affect large numbers of Solomon Islanders and the reason can be explained largely because of unhealthy diets (excessive salt use, high use of saturated and trans fat, low intake of fruit and vegetables), physical inactivity, consumption of tobacco and alcohol, and being overweight or obese.
I believe much more attention should be given to one’s blood pressure, and I would like to share some advice on high blood pressure symptoms to look out for regularly.
High blood pressure means the force of blood pushing against your artery walls is consistently too high. Over time, this process can rupture the walls that line your blood vessels, causing a fatty substance called cholesterol to enter your arteries. This can hike your risk of having heart attack. This mechanism doesn't usually produce any outward signs but recent research published in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal, has found an association with periodontitis.
Periodontitis is the medical term for a severe gum infection.
The key finding from the study was that adults with periodontitis may be significantly more likely to have higher blood pressure compared to individuals who had healthy gums.
The study builds on previous research, which found an association between hypertension and periodontitis.
According to the Mayo Clinic, periodontitis damages the soft tissue and, without treatment, can destroy the bone that supports your teeth.
Elevated blood pressure is usually asymptomatic, and many individuals may be unaware that they are at increased risk of cardiovascular complications.
How to check your blood pressure
Most people will not experience symptoms associated with high blood pressure so the only way of knowing whether you have high blood pressure is to have a blood pressure test.
All adults over 40 are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every five years.
"Getting this done in the Solomon Islands might not be as easy in other countries but getting your blood pressure should be done at the NRH, a provincial hospital, a medical clinic, medical centre, at one of the Honiara City Council clinics or at a private health clinic.
You can also check your blood pressure yourself with a home blood pressure monitor, if you have one.
Researchers have found that a diagnosis of gum disease was associated with higher odds of hypertension, independent of common cardiovascular risk factors, such as family history of cardiovascular disease.
Individuals with gum disease were twice as likely to have high systolic blood pressure values, compared to people with healthy gums.
What is systolic blood pressure?
Systolic blood pressure is the force at which your heart pumps blood around your body.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), attention is given to systolic blood pressure as it is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease for people over 50.
Comment.
Do please take steps to have your blood pressure checked and especially if your daily diet and lifestyle is based on the information I have set out. High blood pressure can lead to heart attacks and other cardiovascular complications, so please follow the advice.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
