By Regina Benneh
Sunyani, (Bono), May 17, GNA-The Bono Regional Directorate of Health says it is targeting screening more than 30,000 people in the region for hypertensive care, as the nation marks this year World Hypertension Day.
The Day, marked annually on May 17, raises awareness and promotes hypertension prevention, detection, and control.
Madam Cecilia Adoma Yeboah Snr, the Bono Regional Focal Person for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Sunyani that a wellness clinic would soon be established at the Sunyani Teaching Hospital.
The clinic would offer free blood pressure checks for early detection and proper management, she stated, saying the regional celebration of the Day was on the theme “Measure one million”.
She advised Ghanaians to adopt healthier lifestyles to prevent themselves from hypertension and other NCDs, saying balancing once diets and regular physical exercise reduced the risk of hypertension.
Mad Yeboah Snr, also the Head of Pharmacy at Kwatire Government Hospital in the Sunyani West Municipality expressed concern about the increasing cases of hypertension, saying the disease was now affecting the youthful population as well.
Describing hypertension as a public health concern, she said awareness and checking once health status remained key to the prevention and management of the disease, emphasising on healthy lifestyle and good eating habits.
“Diets low in sugar and unhealthy fats, combined with regular physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of developing the disease,” she advised.
Mad Yeboah Snr said common symptoms of hypertension included fast heartbeat, dizziness, frequent tiredness, and severe headaches, and urged those experiencing the symptoms to seek early medical care and refrain from self-medication.
She said that accurate diagnosis remained essential saying those symptoms could also be indicative of other health conditions, saying the disease had no cure, however it could be managed with prescribed medication and lifestyle modifications.
Mad Yeboah Snr urged people living with the condition to adhere strictly to the prescribed management plans that would help them to live longer, stressing that the condition had genetic implications too.
She asked people with family history to also avoid unhealthy lifestyle and bad eating habits and do regular medical check-ups to reduce the risk of developing the condition.
GNA
DEN/AD