Health ยท Priscilla Asante
Rise in cases of hypertension
The Acting Eastern Regional Director at the regional Health Directorate, Dr. Moses Barimah Djimatey, has expressed concern at the rate at which people are getting hypertension, noting that about 30 to 40 percent of Ghanaian adults have hypertension.
He recalled that some years back, it was only a few people who used to have hypertension.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with GBC NEWS, Dr Djimatey, explained, that hypertension occurs when the blood vessel becomes smaller which leads to blood being pushed against the walls of the arteries.
He said because there is an increase in the pressure in the blood vessel, the heart would have to work extra hard before blood will get to the brain, and in the process, the heart becomes enlarged which is termed cardiomegaly.
He noted that there comes a time where blood supply to the peripheries of the enlarged heart decreases or declines because, originally, the blood supply was not meant for a big heart.
He observed that due to poor blood supply, with time the cells die because of the limited blood which leads to cardiac arrests.
Dr Djimatey mentioned two major causes of hypertension which is ones eating habits or lifestyle, and lack of physical activities.
"In the olden days, people were involved in a lot of physical activities like walking miles to school, church, and farm among others especially in the villages but nowadays, people no longer walk to such places because of what he termed good living," he said.
He observed that due to that, a lot of children are becoming obese, warning that parents who allow their children to reach such states, are digging the grave of their children.
Touching on lifestyle, he said most parents and children take all kinds of soft drinks, which does not add any nutrients to their body but rather leads to diseases.
Dr. Djimatey said medically it is not advisable for one to gain weight when growing old, especially 30 or 40 years and above explaining that in such instance, then it means one is depositing fats which can be dangerous to their health.
He said humans eat to become healthy and that any time one eats beyond diets, it may lead to over working the body which may result in diseases adding that smoking can also lead to cardiac diseases.
"Drinking can also affect the heart since the alcohol goes to every part of the body which can lead to liver cirrhosis," he revealed.
Dr Djimatey entreated all to drink more water rather than the carbonated drinks and to eat healthy foods so that they can live longer.